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03-27-2011, 03:59 PM
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Location: Mooresville, NC
2,266 posts, read 3,159,808 times
Reputation: 1872
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When we moved into this house back in September they had pine straw all around the flower beds but now we want to switch over to black mulch. My question is, should I rake up all the pine needles (not a lot in some places) or can I just put the mulch over the top of the pine straw?
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03-27-2011, 05:23 PM
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Location: central va central me south fl
123 posts, read 282,941 times
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pine straw is mulch it is expensive and not easy to get. stay away from black mulch(tire rubber chip) or red mulch(red dye color).
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03-27-2011, 06:38 PM
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Location: Virginia
18,717 posts, read 29,842,232 times
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The pine is good for acid loving plants. We mulched with pine needles one year and then put black mulch over it the next year, and the roses in particular loved it. We really love the black mulch. It's hardwood that's dyed black. Be aware that when you frst put it down the black dye comes off on your hands (and on your pets' paws). One rain is usually all it takes to make the color settle.
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03-27-2011, 07:54 PM
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Location: Mooresville, NC
2,266 posts, read 3,159,808 times
Reputation: 1872
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Caladium - did you just leave the pine straw down and put the black mulch over it?
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03-29-2011, 09:10 PM
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1,872 posts, read 3,725,430 times
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Not meaning to hijack this thread, but I was wondering if pine needles help control weeds at all? I was thinking about mulching my flower bed with pine needles, but I went with black mulch because I thought it would look better.
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03-29-2011, 10:14 PM
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Location: Englewood, FL
1,268 posts, read 2,867,597 times
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Pine straw breaks down completely over time, so you can just put regular mulch on top of it.
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03-29-2011, 10:16 PM
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Location: Englewood, FL
1,268 posts, read 2,867,597 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geneyus
I was wondering if pine needles help control weeds at all?
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I have found they do. But you do have to replenish them more often than regular mulch since the pine straw breaks down more quickly. |
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03-29-2011, 10:39 PM
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Location: Mooresville, NC
2,266 posts, read 3,159,808 times
Reputation: 1872
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geneyus
Not meaning to hijack this thread, but I was wondering if pine needles help control weeds at all? I was thinking about mulching my flower bed with pine needles, but I went with black mulch because I thought it would look better.
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I think they've done a good job of that really. No issues with weeds, at least not anymore then what we got with mulch. |
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03-30-2011, 06:58 AM
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Location: Tampa Bay Area
494 posts, read 1,609,377 times
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Pine straw breaks down completely over time, so you can just put regular mulch on top of it. - Coastal Chic is correct.
As mentioned it has a minor acidification effect which many plants prefer.
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03-30-2011, 01:41 PM
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Location: Virginia
18,717 posts, read 29,842,232 times
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Yes, I put it right on top of the pine needles.
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