Need input on pine mulch - Wildlife Gardeners

biigblueyes · 10-06-2009, 05:55 PM

I have a friend asking me for advice on pine mulch. Specifically, the kind that comes in 50 pound rolls. I'm a tightwad and use free mulch. I can't vouch for the premium stuff.

Who's used it? Pros and cons, please!

Equilibrium · 10-07-2009, 02:50 AM

Use it. Use it in quantities. I love the stuff. Gimme more more more!!! Cons would be to watch your supplier. You don't want to get weed seed.

TheLorax · 10-07-2009, 04:51 PM

University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry

Quote:

Hardwood bark mulch can cause a buildup of calcium and potassium in the soil increasing pH and causing an imbalance in soil minerals that can interfere with nutrient uptake. The minerals in pine needles are balanced and therefore, their decomposition does not create an imbalance in the soil.

PineStraw · 10-08-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biigblueyes

I have a friend asking me for advice on pine mulch. Specifically, the kind that comes in 50 pound rolls. I'm a tightwad and use free mulch. I can't vouch for the premium stuff.

Who's used it? Pros and cons, please!

I am biased towards the stuff.

swamp thing · 10-08-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

the kind that comes in 50 pound rolls

What are rolls of mulch?

biigblueyes · 10-08-2009, 12:36 PM

Apparently they take pine needles and use a modified baler to make round bales of pine straw.

This one's about the baler machines.
AGRIQUIP.com :: Star :: Pine Straw Baling Photos

Interview with someone who sells the machines. Pine Straw - The Money Making Mulch
"Pine needles are a very popular material used for landscape mulching because of it’s attractive appearance and it’s resistance to washing away. "

swamp thing · 10-08-2009, 12:40 PM

Neat. We don't get that around here. I have to buy bags of pine bark, and use leaves (and pine needles) as I can get them.

will-o-wisp · 10-08-2009, 03:02 PM

Very neat and tidy.

We have leaf pick up from piles in the street in our town.

I stake out trees in neighbors front yards and try to get the pine needle piles before they are contaminated with too many leaves from other trees.
(I have plenty of those other leaves in my own yard and use them in the compost piles.)

I picked up my first 3 bags today while walking the dogs.

It gives new meaning, and a rather sophisticated air (at least that's what I tell myself as I pretend I'm really not carrying huge bags of leaves home from a walk) , to the term bag lady.

I do have to say that I don't use them in most paths as mulch (except the contained vegetable garden) because it does wash away in the rain. I save them for the garden beds especially around the smaller plants that would be smothered with leaves so I wait until after leaves fall and are collected to spread and thin layer of pine needles.
Whatever is left gets spread after the ground is frozen.

For the paths I'm trying mini pine bark mulch and hoping it's heavier and will stay in place and an end edging on the slope.

granbright · 10-08-2009, 05:52 PM

Thanks for all the info. I think I will check it out. Sounds good.

TheLorax · 10-14-2009, 04:05 PM

I am biased toward pine mulch myself. It can be used anywhere based on my personal experiences.

10-06-2009, 05:55 PM	#1
biigblueyes WG Hospitality Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cajun Country, Louisiana, USA	Need input on pine mulch I have a friend asking me for advice on pine mulch. Specifically, the kind that comes in 50 pound rolls. I'm a tightwad and use free mulch. I can't vouch for the premium stuff. Who's used it? Pros and cons, please! __________________ My yarden and I lean a little to the wild side.

10-07-2009, 02:50 AM	#2
Equilibrium Land Steward Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois	Use it. Use it in quantities. I love the stuff. Gimme more more more!!! Cons would be to watch your supplier. You don't want to get weed seed. __________________ There are people all over the world who are willing to exploit others. You can't just point the finger at America -Arlo Guthrie

10-08-2009, 12:36 PM	#6
biigblueyes WG Hospitality Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cajun Country, Louisiana, USA	Apparently they take pine needles and use a modified baler to make round bales of pine straw. This one's about the baler machines. AGRIQUIP.com :: Star :: Pine Straw Baling Photos Interview with someone who sells the machines. Pine Straw - The Money Making Mulch "Pine needles are a very popular material used for landscape mulching because of it’s attractive appearance and it’s resistance to washing away. " __________________ My yarden and I lean a little to the wild side. Last edited by biigblueyes; 10-08-2009 at 12:36 PM. Reason: typo

10-14-2009, 04:05 PM	#10
TheLorax Unicellular Fungi Join Date: Nov 2008	I am biased toward pine mulch myself. It can be used anywhere based on my personal experiences. __________________ "In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist

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10-08-2009, 12:40 PM	#7
swamp thing Mentor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: pennsylvania,usa	Neat. We don't get that around here. I have to buy bags of pine bark, and use leaves (and pine needles) as I can get them.

10-08-2009, 03:02 PM	#8
will-o-wisp Rock Star Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Piedmont area NJ USA	Very neat and tidy. We have leaf pick up from piles in the street in our town. I stake out trees in neighbors front yards and try to get the pine needle piles before they are contaminated with too many leaves from other trees. (I have plenty of those other leaves in my own yard and use them in the compost piles.) I picked up my first 3 bags today while walking the dogs. It gives new meaning, and a rather sophisticated air (at least that's what I tell myself as I pretend I'm really not carrying huge bags of leaves home from a walk) , to the term bag lady. I do have to say that I don't use them in most paths as mulch (except the contained vegetable garden) because it does wash away in the rain. I save them for the garden beds especially around the smaller plants that would be smothered with leaves so I wait until after leaves fall and are collected to spread and thin layer of pine needles. Whatever is left gets spread after the ground is frozen. For the paths I'm trying mini pine bark mulch and hoping it's heavier and will stay in place and an end edging on the slope.

10-08-2009, 05:52 PM	#9
granbright Carbon Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Texas	Thanks for all the info. I think I will check it out. Sounds good.