{"id":2476,"date":"2014-05-28T08:56:24","date_gmt":"2014-05-28T14:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/?p=2476"},"modified":"2025-08-16T07:42:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T13:42:55","slug":"pine-needles-for-mulch-and-a-garden-experiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/pine-needles-for-mulch-and-a-garden-experiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Love Using Pine Needles for Mulch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Tomatoes<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I once had the opportunity to speak with David Salman, Founder & Chief Horticulturist of High Country Gardens<\/a>, for a short gardening article I wrote for Sunset<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being the opportunist that I am, I couldn’t resist asking him an off-topic question about my own garden. “What do you recommend for mulch?” I asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was curious because I’d tried grass clippings, leaves and wood chips and none really seemed to keep the plants happy and cool while fending off weeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Pine needles,” he said, without hesitation. I was surprised, having always thought that pine needles (also known as “pine straw”) were too acidic for mulch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he thought they were fine (he suggested pecan shells, too), and my research confirmed that the needles’ acidity level is rarely an issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have a large Ponderosa Pine in the corner of the yard, so I have a ready supply of pine needles that have been rained and snowed on for several seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So ever since, I’ve mulched our garden with pine needles and they’ve done so well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is our kitchen garden, which is right off the back patio:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mulch<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In addition to six types of tomatoes, plus basil and thyme, we have an aromatic section with chives, onions, shallots, garlic and leeks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Onions,<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I don’t mulch these plants because they’re pretty tough. Don’t you appreciate tough, hardy plants?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been working on this garden for nine seasons. When we bought the house, the space was filled with two huge fitzer bushes, myrtle and gravel. For years I’ve been digging in compost<\/a> to improve the soil, and clearing out rocks, myrtle shoots, fitzer roots and hard, packed clay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I kept some of the myrtle along one edge, and it grows like Jack’s beanstalk in the summer so I’m constantly cutting it back. It’s so pretty in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Garden<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The bamboo and fencing are to keep rabbits out of the garden<\/a>. I’ve noticed the sharp pine needles help deter them, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 Reasons to Mulch Your Garden with Pine Needles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Excellent Moisture Retention<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pine needles form a light, fluffy layer that keeps the soil cool and moist. Even on our hottest summer days, I notice that the ground under my vegetables and flowers stays damp longer, which means I don’t have to water as often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Natural Weed Suppression<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When I spread a good, thick layer of needles, I get far fewer weeds popping up. The mulch blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds but still lets air and water flow through to my plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Lightweight and Long-Lasting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike heavy bark mulch which can pack down, pine needles are light, airy, and easy to spread around delicate stems. They also decompose slowly, so I don’t have to refresh the mulch as often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Free and Abundant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the best part is that pine needles are free if you have a Ponderosa pine in your yard—or a generous neighbor who does. Every fall I scoop them up by the bagful, and it feels so satisfying to use what nature provides instead of buying bags of mulch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about you? Do you have a favorite mulch? Have you ever tried pine needles? Drop a comment below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

… Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"limit_modified_date":"","last_modified_date":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-garden","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy I Love Using Pine Needles for Mulch - Happy Simple Living<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pine needles make excellent mulch, and help hold in moisture in soil while protecting tender plants from weather hazards.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.happysimpleliving.com\/pine-needles-for-mulch-and-a-garden-experiment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why I Love Using Pine Needles for Mulch - 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