perefalcon
Michigan, USA
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 2:25 pm Post subject: Pine Needle Question |
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ok, I have these 2 big pines in the front of my house that haven't been cared for in a very long time (previous owner of the house). Now we have these half deteriorated pine needle dirt and I was wondering, could I mix it with something less acidic like peat to use in low spots or in my garden for the more acid loving species? Any ideas on this would be great cause they're more dirt than needle and it'd be to heavy to just shove in a lawn bag on yard waste day.
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eileen
 Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18013
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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There's nothing to stop you raking up and using your pine needles perefalcon elsewhere in the garden. This material is ideal for woodland gardens. Some gardeners find that prickly needles help to discourage slugs as well. Apparently the soft-bellied pests hate crawling over pine needles. Mixing the needles with soil or compost doesn't actually raise the PH level so they should work well.
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Capt Kirk
Ohio, USA
Posts: 3233
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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In the south they use it as mulch around shrubs and other plantings. In fact there is a whole industry of raking up pine needles and baling them. They are sold in garden store down there.
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Droopy
Regular Plants Contributor
Western Norway
Posts: 9272
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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We use pine needles in our borders to get lighter soil for our acid-soil lovers. It's also good for some orchids, so it's a useful thing to have.
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toni
Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11248
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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You can also weave baskets out of them, I have seen bunches of pine needles on ebay. But that doesn't answer the original question. 
Using them in other areas would be good, how about combining it with compost instead of peat tho for a more fertile planting area.
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daisybeans
annapolis md
Posts: 3675
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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Would they be good to put in the composter or too heavy? Or would it change the ph of the compost too much?
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"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence
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stratsmom
Southern Oregon
Posts: 2284
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| Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Wish I lived closer, I'd take some of that pine needle dirt off your hands  My plan is to mosey out to my sister-in-laws this summer and take some of hers!
I would love to mix it with compost. I've heard that strawberries like acidic soil. Does anyone know?? Wouldn't the needles add the needed acid???
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perefalcon
Michigan, USA
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I mixed it with compost! I had my husband spread the pine needles over my entire garden area, then spread a big bag of compost and then we stole his dad's rear tine tiller for the day!
I just planted my tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Snow Peas, Chives, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Chard, Brocolli, Spinach and Romaine. I'm gonna also put in Carrots, Beets, more chard and spinach, Watermelon, Cantalope, Spaghetti Squash, Strawberries(50 pleants!) and Green Beans. We increased the size of the garden this year and added a couple extra areas for the Asparagus, Blue-, Rasp- and Blackberries and the almond tree. My back yard is gonna be a veritable buffet of fresh fruit/veggie/nutty goodness!
Now if I can just keep the dogs from running through the garden till I pick up the fencing!
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stratsmom
Southern Oregon
Posts: 2284
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| Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck with the pups! 
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