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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Anyone have pine straw mulch? [updated with pics]
We have wood chips and I'm not crazy about them. The biggest problem is that Brinkley had taken a liking to them! Not only does he love to run around in them, scattering them everywhere, he also EATS it. Yup, picks up a piece, chews on it and swallows it.
Sooooo we have a couple of new beds that have no mulch because I honestly don't know what to do. I did a search and found out about pine straw mulch. Basically, pine needles.
Since it's not from a living part of the tree, it's more eco friendly than other mulches. It can be fluffed up easily with a pitchfork, doesn't attract termites, and you can DYE it!  Yes, you can apply the color you want with a spray bottle. Even the ever-popular black mulch color. The dye lasts about 9 months. I don't think I would bother, initially.
From the source I'm looking at, the price is about $50. for one bale which should cover 120 to 600 square feet, they say. I thought... Let me check local and see if I can forego the $18.42 shipping charge (the weight makes it pricey). Well, it doesn't look like any of the big places have it, at least HD, Lowes, Cheap Sams and Garden Depot don't list it on their sites along with their other mulch. So I might go ahead and buy online.
Anyone have it, use it, have bags and bags of pine needles they would like to donate to me? 
Message edited 8/13/2009 8:09:55 PM.
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Posted 8/5/09 7:42 PM  |
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NewlyMrs
Laugh-Live-Love LIFE!
Member since 10/06 14432 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Ok! I think I found my new mulch. Anyone have pine straw mulch?
down here in NC it's very popular and I think we are going to switch to it.
We were using a fine mulch and I loved it at first, but it washes away too easy!
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| Posted 8/5/09 8:41 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Ok! I think I found my new mulch. Anyone have pine straw mulch?
Pine needles are acidic, so keep that in mind. That's a big reason why nothing really grows under a pine tree. That's great for keeping weeds out, but I would wonder if it might harm the plants and flowers, too.
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| Posted 8/6/09 7:38 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Ok! I think I found my new mulch. Anyone have pine straw mulch?
Posted by GoldenRod
Pine needles are acidic, so keep that in mind. That's a big reason why nothing really grows under a pine tree. That's great for keeping weeds out, but I would wonder if it might harm the plants and flowers, too.
I never knew this! i always thought it was too shady under a pine tree.
thanks for the info. looking forward to see if OP researches this and the outcome.
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| Posted 8/6/09 7:50 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Ok! I think I found my new mulch. Anyone have pine straw mulch?
Posted by rkoenke
Posted by GoldenRod
Pine needles are acidic, so keep that in mind. That's a big reason why nothing really grows under a pine tree. That's great for keeping weeds out, but I would wonder if it might harm the plants and flowers, too.
I never knew this! i always thought it was too shady under a pine tree.
thanks for the info. looking forward to see if OP researches this and the outcome.
The pine tree in the front of my house doesn't have any branches for 15 feet or more, like a lot of species of pines. There's almost no shade directly under the tree, but it's hard to get grass to grow there. Luckily, this particular species doesn't drop a lot of needles, so it isn't as bad as it could be.
I'm sure there's a way of compensating or adjusting the acidity, either by the manufacturer, or after the fact, maybe by added something to the soil directly under the good plants.
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| Posted 8/6/09 8:16 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Ok! I think I found my new mulch. Anyone have pine straw mulch?
The pH acidity change with pine needles may be a well repeated myth actually, from what I'm reading. True, they tip the scales to the acid side but from what I've read so far (only taking the word of information with specific pH testing stats), the pH change is minimal.
I have a pH soil testing kit that I bought for my hydrangeas (I'm actually turning two of them acid to get blue flowers) so I can test and amend if necessary.
I'm working on my compost piles too, which will help with the soil quality. Did you know what wood mulch leaches nitrogen from the topsoil? I'm trying to remain organic and not using synthetic fertilizers, so that's also a concern for me; how to replace the nitrogen.
My eventual goal is to have such a condensed planting area that I don't need mulch because the plants will blot out the sun from reaching the soil. 
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| Posted 8/6/09 8:44 AM |
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Re: Ok! I think I found my new mulch. Anyone have pine straw mulch?
I have it naturally from all the pine trees I have in my back yard and their are very few weeds under them. I was actually going to have the landscaper clean it up but he didn't recommend to.
I personally don't like it for the front because I feel like it looks messy but it could because we have so many pine trees that I am tired of looking at pine needles.
One thing I will add is that if you plan on putting it by a walk way and the wind takes it to the drive way when it get wet it is very slippery.
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| Posted 8/6/09 8:48 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Ok! I think I found my new mulch. Anyone have pine straw mulch?
Update... Found a free source in the parking lot of my office building! 
I filled up one bag and was able to lay some down tonight. Here's the before and after:
I'm liking it! So far, Brinkley has left it alone. Keeping my fingers crossed there.
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| Posted 8/13/09 7:50 PM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: Anyone have pine straw mulch? [updated with pics]
IT LOOKS NICE!
Recycled, Repurposed, Cleaned up the parking lot AND BEST OF ALL... FREE!
good job!!
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| Posted 8/13/09 9:12 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Anyone have pine straw mulch? [updated with pics]
Looks nice! And it's free. 
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| Posted 8/14/09 9:51 AM |
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