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Pine needle clean up #927729

Asked April 07, 2026, 1:09 PM EDT

My neighbor’s pine trees have carpeted my shade garden. My maple tree has also carpeted the garden. Should I rake or leave them? Plants in this young shade garden are…. Lamium, ferns, phlox, hosta, Lilly of the valley, Thalictrum. Thank you!

Carver County Minnesota

Expert Response

Those leaves and needles are wonderful mulch! So if they are not too thick, you can leave them. If they are so thick that the plants cannot poke through them, then removing some would be in order.

Paul-Master Gardener volunteer 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 07, 2026, 2:18 PM EDT

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