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PINE NEEDLES #815483
Asked October 29, 2022, 10:28 AM EDT
Cuyahoga County Ohio
Expert Response
Dear Jill,
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YOUR QUESTION #0085412:
PINE NEEDLES
In the fall my backyard is carpeted with pine needles. Leaves can be turned into leaf mulch after time. Are pine needles of any use in my garden or yard?Ask Extension offers one-to-one expert answers from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers within participating Land-Grant institutions across the United States.
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Pine needles (as well as leaves) can be used as mulch in the garden and in pathways. Both are a great free resource in the landscape.
"There is a long list of benefits to using pine needle mulch, including that it is free and often readily available. Pine needles provide all the advantages of any other mulching material, including conserving soil moisture, suppressing weeds, adding soil nutrients, moderating soil temperature and keeping plants and fruit clean during heavy rains. Additionally, pine needles have a tendency to stay loose and light, not forming an impenetrable crust like wood mulch. They are quite stable and do not tend to wash out of beds during heavy rains. In spots where it is difficult to keep mulch in place on a slope, pine needles may be the answer. Finally, pine needles are longer lasting than other types of organic mulch, and their fine texture is quite attractive against most permanent plantings." https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/10/do-pine-trees-pine-needles-make-soil-more-acidic
