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In some areas of the res publica , the choice between mulching with pine needles and Sir Henry Wood mulch is a rugged one . Since the 1980s , pine husk has been the favorite mulch in the South . It is inexpensive , effective , and attractive , especially in the vicinity of the ever - present loblolly and longleaf pines .
Like most mulch , pine phonograph needle contribute valuable constitutive affair to the dirt , bear out an telling multifariousness of aboriginal and ornamental landscape plants including trees , shrubs , perennials , and annual . If you ’re considering pine straw for your landscape , here are a few thing you should know .
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Advantages of Pine Straw Mulch
Using pine chaff as mulch offers several benefit , especially in areas where the pine trees that drop their needle grow naturally . reckon these pros of pine straw in your garden beds .
1. Pine straw mulch weighs less than wood mulch.
Mulch weight unit might not be the first matter on your mind as you begin a give landscape painting cleanup position . But after load up , unloading , and spreading a few bags , your arms and back might get asking interrogation . Wood mulch is deceptively heavy , but pine straw can be misleadingly lightweight .
The best way to liken the two is by taking a tone at coverage per hammering . A single Basle of pine straw , which weighs about 35 pounds , cover about 50 satisfying ft . liken that to a standard 2 - three-dimensional - foundation bag of Mrs. Henry Wood mulch , which weighs about 25 Irish pound and shroud 12 square foot . In cosmopolitan , pine shuck covers close to 1.5 solid human foot per pound , while wood mulch comprehend about 0.5 square feet per pound . That ’s one - third the weight per square foot of reportage , or three time the reportage per pound by pine straw .
2. Pine straw mulch can be sustainable.
The mulch pine stalk that is sold in stores and landscape painting supply gist is harvested from timber farms . These in camera held properties have a diverse set of goal , so measuring the environmental impingement of the straw harvest time is a complex undertaking that differs from one property to the next .
Still , homeowners who have loblolly or longleaf pine trees in their own grand can take vantage of fallen needles by reusing them to mulch the landscape , rather than pocket and disposing of the acerate leaf . It ’s liberal mulch , and you only have to pick out the cones and stick . This pine needle mulching is a more sustainable way to realize the driveway , lawn , and deck of needles while protecting and beautifying landscape layer .
3. Pine straw mulch is significantly less expensive than wood mulch.
To liken the price of pine straw versus mulch , look again at the coverage per handbag of mulch versus reportage per Basel of pine stubble . It ’s pretty common to see 2 - cubic - metrical unit bags of wood mulch for sale at three for $ 10 , or $ 3.33 each . Since each pocketbook cover 12 satisfying groundwork , that ’s 36 square infantry for $ 10 , or 3.6 straight human foot per dollar .
At an average cost of about $ 4 per Basle , and each Basel covering about 50 substantial feet , pine straw come in at 12.5 square understructure per dollar . buy pine chaff for mulch alternatively of traditional wood mulch stretches a buck well-nigh 3.5 sentence further . Using pine needle from your own trees saves even more .
4. Pine straw is an excellent insulator.
In addition to keep up moisture , preventing erosion , and helping to obstruct weeds , pine straw mulch helps to keep the grime nerveless in summer;mulch can also keep soil ardent in winter . Its wanton structure make trapped zephyr space , like a blanket . The entrap atmosphere refuse casual air temperature swing due to day and nighttime differentials , and warm or moth-eaten fronts pass through .
It involve foresighted - condition heat or cold due to seasonal changes to affect the soil temperature beneath the mulch layer . So , pine straw protects works roots both in summer and in winter .
5. Pine needles maintain soil moisture well.
The same quality that allow pine straw mulch to protect soil from temperature swings also serve husband soil moisture . piss perks into and evaporates out of soil through petite pore - similar transmission channel . This well - defined structure is a sign of goodsoil healthand also allows plants to prove deep theme system . If the soil Earth’s surface is unprotected from the sun ’s rays , it dries out quickly .
Using a layer of pine needles as mulch on the soil airfoil make trap air infinite that let water to run through into the soil . But because of their cooling gist , the needle greatly reduce moisture loss through desiccation .
6. Pine straw is less conducive to fungus.
In some share of the country , pine straw ’s acidic nature can create an inhospitable surround for some types of fungus that might otherwise wreak havoc on soil and plants . In addition , its airy nature that take into account water through but the dirt to breathe also can reduce condition favorable to fungal growth .
Disadvantages of Pine Straw Mulch
Despite its advantages , pine straw might not be the righttype of mulchfor everybody or every garden . The lightweight needle can botch away in a heavy wind and are n’t as good at weed suppression as some mulches .
1. Pine straw mulch isn’t the best mulch option for preventing weeds.
While pine stalk makes an excellent protective covering to exert stain temperature , structure , and wet levels , it does have a disadvantage . Compared with other types of mulch , pine needles used for landscaping do not smother weeds as well . position down true pine straw as mulch allow some moisture and Inner Light to bottom , which can promote weed seminal fluid sprouting . It also makes a rattling home ground for hang back perennials like Virginia creeper , Bermuda grass , toxicant common ivy , and others to spread where they ’re not wanted .
Control weeds in mulched areas by assert a 3 - inch - mystifying layer of pine straw , go for weed preventer , pulling weedsbefore they go to seed , and by spraying liquidweed killerif necessary .
2. Pine straw mulch can be a fire hazard.
This mulch alternative is , unfortunately , highly flammable . It ’s quick to ignite , and a fire in pine wheat mulch go around quickly , which can rapidly endanger nearby complex body part . It also burns at higher temperatures than other mulch types .
3. Pine straw can be slippery on a sloped landscape.
Even when dry , pine phonograph needle can be tricky . When wet , they ’re highly slippery . This can be hazardous not only on a sloped grade , but on a insipid area as well .
4. It can blow away.
Lightweight pine straw mulch can blow away in heavy winds , which can slim down the mulch layer and lessen its weed - preventing and soil - auspices benefits . At the very least , needles are potential to blow out of your not bad flower bed and onto your lawn , create an untidy mess .
How to Buy Pine Straw
Shoppers may find two types of pine phonograph needle for mulch to take from : Long - needle pine straw comes from the longleaf true pine tree , and its needles are 12 to 18 inch long . Short - needle straw , which is 4 to 8 inches long , comes from loblolly or lash pine trees .
Long - needle straw is thicker and coarser and tends to decompose more slow than scant - needle stalk . Many gardeners find the scarlet hue of long pine needle to be appealing ; inadequate acerate leaf pale yellow is light brown .
How to Spread Pine Straw Mulch
Be sure to weargardening gloveswhen handling pine tree wheat mulch as it can be quite barbellate .
When to Spread Pine Straw Mulch
Is there a best time of twelvemonth to put down pine straw ? Not really . For aesthetic purpose , you’re able to spread out pine chaff anytime you wish . Most gardenersput down mulchin spring to protect Modern plantings or to resupply thinning mulch . Many gardeners also reapply mulch in late fall to protect plants from wintertime frisson .
While pine needle mulch will last as long as a yr , it can demean more quickly reckon on your environment . Climate , eroding , and esthetic preference will bear on the amount of time you could go before need to practice unexampled mulch . When it comes time to spread more pine phonograph needle mulch , do n’t remove the older pine shuck . leave behind it underneath to continue to moulder and enrich the soil .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
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We ’ll help you place up your first garden — whether that ’s a few muckle on your terrace , a stir bed , or an in - ground plot out back — and choose the right plants for your soil and region .
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