Pine needle mulching
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URL: http://rainyside.com/forum//forum_posts.asp?TID=4956
Printed Date: May-23-2013 at 1:55am
Topic: Pine needle mulching
Posted By: juhlee
Subject: Pine needle mulching
Date Posted: Sep-29-2009 at 10:40pm
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Since pine needle mulching is highly recommended for rhodos and azaleas, may I use "fresh, green pine needles" for mulching as a neighbour has just cut down a Ponderosa pine & I would like to recycle the needles? Or do I have to dry the needles to decrease the effects of the ingredient which inhibits growth (forgotten the term).
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Replies:
Posted By: JeanneK
Date Posted: Sep-30-2009 at 9:04am
I wouldn't worry about the needles taking nutrients from the soil. They will be on top. It could become an issue if you were to dig the pine needles into the soil. I would just lay them under your plants and let nature dry them out for you.
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Jeanne
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Posted By: Joy C
Date Posted: Oct-01-2009 at 8:44am
Yesterday, I kept tabs on a neighbor who had a couple of really big pine trees in front of their house which some amatures were taking down. First of all they should have sharpened their chain saws before beginning! The pines are down now, and he will have quite a bit of needle mulch. Jeanne's perscription is a good one, and you will note that it does take quite a bit of time for them to break down, but does a good job of providing cover for the rhodies feet. It is a very natural cycle in nature also.
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Joy
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Posted By: mdvaden
Date Posted: Oct-02-2009 at 8:58pm
Originally posted by JeanneK
I wouldn't worry about the needles taking nutrients from the soil. They will be on top. It could become an issue if you were to dig the pine needles into the soil. I would just lay them under your plants and let nature dry them out for you. |
That's what I think too. When I worked at University of Portland in the 80s, I'd bring home pickup loads of pine or giant sequoia needles to mulch our beds with at home.
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M.D. Vaden
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Posted By: juhlee
Date Posted: Oct-03-2009 at 7:44am
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Thanks for your wonderful input ... now I must get to work to remove those needles off the 12 bags of branches!
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Posted By: JeanneK
Date Posted: Oct-03-2009 at 12:55pm
You might want to put the smaller boughs (and/or cut up the larger ones) and just lay them under the Rhodies and your shrubs. The needles will fall off the branches on their own. Then you can collect the bare branches later. Save you time and energy.
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Jeanne
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Posted By: Joy C
Date Posted: Oct-07-2009 at 9:14am
Jeanne, the practical gardener! Delightful--just gave your prescription to my neighbor, who also says THANKS!
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Joy
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