Pine straw vs. bark (house, costs, termites)

[pinkpalace]

This is probably a dumb question, but I have to ask it anyway.

I just moved here from up north (Maine and Idaho before that). We used cedar bark chips in our flower beds -- but I notice that here in Georgia everybody uses pine straw. I assume there's a really good reason for it, I just don't know what the reason is.

Is it termites? Or something else?

TIA

[marysally]

Do you mean pine straw or pine bark? If you mean pine straw, I would say that it is cheap (free if you have pine trees).

[pinkpalace]

oh yeah, sorry, meant "pine straw". I fixed my post.

Free makes sense. I like the look of bark better, but I don't want to do something dumb if there's another reason.

thanks!

[Karla with a K]

pinkpalace
certian plants really like the acid that comes from pine straw and pine bark, so if you have acid lovig plants you will make them very happy
karla

[CabinFever]

If your going to use bark,I would suggest keeping it away from your foundation(termites love wood ya know)I would use pinestraw around the foundation and if you have beds away from the house use bark.

[kc_tinman]

just personal preference. Bark will last longer and you can blow leaves out of beds with bark. Leaves get stuck in pine straw. For a small area I would use bark. Cedar & cypress are supposed to not appeal to termites but I would be careful putting any wood close to the home.

[Brewboy]

Just an FYI.....Pinestraw attracts tons of critters like ants and various other creatures that will get into your house.....spiders love it!! The best stuff to use is cedar chips. This keeps pretty much all critters away and is easy to maintain.

[CabinFever]

Originally Posted by Brewboy

Just an FYI.....Pinestraw attracts tons of critters like ants and various other creatures that will get into your house.....spiders love it!! The best stuff to use is cedar chips. This keeps pretty much all critters away and is easy to maintain.

FYI......Cedar chips is wood and any kind of wood around your foundation is bad.Further more,anything that accumulates moisture around the foundation is bad.Termites are attracted to moisture.A good rule of thumb is to use little mulch or pinestraw around your foundation and have good drainage away from your house.Try not to let your mulch or pinestraw come in contact with any siding or other wood structures.

[atlantagreg30127]

If you can find it, I have heard that Eucalyptus mulch works really well at keeping most bugs away, and is beneficial. Smells good, too. The few places that do carry it usually sell out pretty quick each time they get a shipment though, and it costs more than standard stuff.

[CabinFever]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

If you can find it, I have heard that Eucalyptus mulch works really well at keeping most bugs away, and is beneficial. Smells good, too. The few places that do carry it usually sell out pretty quick each time they get a shipment though, and it costs more than standard stuff.

I would imagine that eucalyptus would cost alot more.I didn't know this was used as a mulch,thought it was just something people put in their house for the smell.I've bought it before and it cost like 2 or 3 bucks just for a little bit to put in a freaking vase.