How Often Should You Put Out Pine Needles?

The use of pine needles, also known as pine straw, as mulch for your garden beds is a great idea for several reasons. They are an inexpensive alternative to mulch, they stay in place, and can acidify the soil in your gardens. If you already use these as mulch or plan to in the future, you may wonder: How often should you put out pine needles? We will answer this question and outline some benefits of using this sustainable mulch below.

How Often Should You Put Out Pine Needles?
Pine needles differ from hardwood and bark mulches in that the needle is a much softer part of the tree. This means that the needles will begin to break down much sooner than other types of mulch. This is a benefit to your garden, but if you are looking to keep the mulch looking decorative and fresh, you will want to replace the pine needles at least every 6 months. Adding new pine needles twice a year will freshen up the look of the beds while adding protection where the old needles have begun to break down. It is important to note that while adding pine needles every 6 months will ensure a fresh-looking mulch layer year-round, it can cause the layer to become thick over time. Your lawn care team may decide to take some of the broken-down needles away during application to prevent excess buildup.

Benefits of Using Pine Needles
The use of pine needles as a mulch is beneficial to your gardens and the planet in several ways. Aside from looking beautiful, the pine needles will create a weed-barrier, help the garden retain moisture, and as the needles break down, they will create a compost layer that adds nutrition into the soil.

Sustainable-     
Many types of mulch require processing such as grinding, and dyeing. Pine needles naturally drop off pine trees and require no processing. This makes them a sustainable type of mulch that is good for the planet as well as your garden.

Aesthetically Pleasing-    
The appearance of a fresh layer of pine needles on your garden bed adds some color and keeps beds looking freshly manicured. Pine needles will also reduce the amount of time spent weeding, as they form a dense layer that keeps weeds down.

Good for Soil-    
As pine needles break down, they add acids into the soil, which can be beneficial to certain types of plants including rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas. The easily broken-down needles will become a natural compost which adds other nutrition into the soil. The layer of pine needles will also help with water retention.

Pine needles make for a great mulch that provides your garden with not only aesthetic, but nutritional benefits. Refreshing the layer of pine needles as often as twice a year will help your beds remain weed-free, sufficiently moist, and well-fed.