pine straw

Pine straw, which is essentially dried pine tree needles, is used as a ground covering around trees, shrubs, and flower beds. Much like wood chips are used elsewhere, the needles prevent erosion and weed growth while allowing water to percolate through to the ground.

When first laid, pine straw is a bright rust color, but it quickly fades to a dull brown. Because of this, to maintain a neat-looking garden/yard, the pine straw must be replaced frequently. It is readily available in bales at garden stores, hardware stores, and sometimes roaming delivery trucks.

Pine straw is used because of the tremendous number of available pine trees that grow in the South, where the high clay content in the soil limits the success of "leafy" trees.

Using pine needles as mulch is commonly done, but some things should be understood beforehand. Pine needles are extremely acidic and will lower the PH of the soil very quickly. Sometimes that is a desired result, and some plants, such as azalias, rhododendrons, camellias and gardenias are acid-loving and will thrive in acidic soils. Blueberries and Loganberries also love acidic soils. If the soil becomes too acidic, the PH can be raised by the addition of oyster shells or lime. Soil testing kits can be found at most garden supply centers, and will help determine the PH of the soil.