What Are The Pros And Cons Of Pine Straw Mulch?
When I was young, there was a nearby park that used pine straw mulch from time to time. I loved it. It smelled like summer to me. While pine straw mulch has its perk of being amazingly nicely scented, the truth is that it’s not for everyone. If you’ve been curious about whether it’s the right mulch for you, I totally understand.
Pine straw mulch is more affordable, better smelling, and can be easier to spread than other mulches. It’s highly protective of shrubs and can help eliminate weeds quickly. Unfortunately, pine straw may need to be refreshed more frequently, can be an eyesore, can house bugs, and will turn soil acidic over time.
If you want to get the right kind of mulch, pine straw is an option you definitely should consider. Our guide will give you a good view of the perks and drawbacks of this popular foresty mulch.
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What Is Pine Straw Mulch?
Pine straw mulch is a mulch that is made exclusively out of pine needles. Throughout the year, pine trees shed their needles. Mulch makers collect these needles and dry them up. Then, they (occasionally) ball up the needles so that they are slightly interlocked. This gives the mulch a more netted texture.
Unlike most other mulch, which is sold by weight or the barrelful, you have to buy pine straw by the bale. It’s a lot like hay, and it will feel a lot like hay when it covers your home. This is one of those mulch types that is surprisingly lightweight. So, if you were worried about harming your car while you transport it, don’t be. It’s cool like that.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Pine Straw?
Pine straw offers a lot of perks and pitfalls to people who want to use it as a mulch. You need to know what to expect. It’s time to look it up.
The Benefits Of Using Pine Straw
While it’s not the most common type of mulch, pine straw still has a fairly loyal fanbase. Here’s the scoop on why you might like it as part of your garden’s setup…
- Pine straw is ideal for locking in moisture. If you have dry soil, this can help cut down on your watering time. There’s something about pine straw that makes it easier for soil to soak up moisture.
- It helps protect plant life during the winter. Along with locking in moisture, it’s easy to see why they’re good in the winter. It’ll help keep your earth warm without “choking out” the soil of air.
- Pine straw is a good weed killer. The needles will help kill any weeds that could be trying to make a home in your soil. Part of the reason is because the acidity of pine needles can make soil inhospitable. The other part is because pine needle mulch is dense enough to block out light. Without light, your weeds can grow.
- Most people also note that it’s a highly effective erosion prevention. If you are worried about washing away soil during rainy seasons, pine straw will be your new ally. It’s also easy to spread, which means that you won’t have to worry about heavy shoveling.
- Oh, and it’s cheap. Compared to most other mulches, pine straw is dirt cheap. You may be able to get coverage for pennies on the dollar compared to most other stuff.
The Drawbacks Of Using Pine Straw
Pine straw is not popular because it sometimes just doesn’t work with the environment. Here’s why many homeowners say no to pine…
- It can spread a little bit too much. A lot of homeowners complain about the way that pine straw seems to get everywhere. In many environments, you might find yourself in a situation where you may need to refresh or even rake up the needles from the rest of your yard.
- This mulch can cause your soil to become acidic. If you already struggle with acidic soil, pine needles are not the mulch for you. The oils in the pine needles can eventually seep into the ground and alter the chemical makeup in your soil. While you can use additives to reduce acidity, it is still a pain in the behind.
- Some people think that it’s an eyesore. The jury is still out on this one, really. Some people adore the look of pine needles. Others can’t stand it and think it looks like hairballs. If you’re not a fan of the look, you can’t do much with the pine needle look. Sure, you can rearrange it, but you are not going to be able to get rid of the hay-like appearance that it has.
- There is reason to believe that pine straw mulch could exacerbate pest problems. So, here’s the thing that you need to be aware of: pine does not attract pests, per se. However, this type of mulch does offer a lot of nooks and crannies where things like centipedes, pill bugs, and other pests could hide. This can lead to an increase in the number of pests that you see.
How Much Does Pine Straw Mulch Cost?
The price of pine straw is one of the most attractive things about this mulch. In order to properly cover the area, you are going to need at least three inches to cover the area. A typical mulch seller will sell straw mulch at around $3 to $4 per bale. This means that you are going to pay around $70 to $75 for every 500 square feet of area you need to add mulch to.
Is Pine Straw The Right Choice For You?
Pine straw can be, but the truth is that it is not for everyone. This is a mulch type that works best in areas that already have a fair amount of pine trees, ideally in temperate forest climates. If you already have acidic soil or have a serious problem with pests in and around your home, then you should not try to use pine straw.
At the end of the day, we cannot tell you which mulch is going to be the right one for you. However, we can tell you that a lot of people find pine to be the best, most cost-effective way to make sure that you get the mulching power you want. When in doubt, just ask the lawn care experts at your local garden supply shop.
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Related Questions
Is pine mulch easy to lay out?
If you are looking for a type of mulch that is easy to arrange and rearrange, then you are going to be a fan of pine mulch. Pine mulch is one of the easiest to arrange and rearrange on a lawn. In many cases, you can rearrange it by hand or through the use of a rake. A close second to pine mulch would be standard hay.
Do you have to remove old pine straw?
Nope! One of the benefits of mulching with purely organic material is that it will start to break down naturally. This means that your pine needles will become a part of the soil near your home, and this will help fertilize your soil. With that said, pine mulch can make your soil more acidic, so if anything, you may want to add something that’s a little more basic to help ensure that your soil is pH-balanced.
When is the best time to lay pine straw?
Pine straw is a great mulch choice for people who want to keep their grounds warm during winter weather. That’s why most people who buy it tend to lay it during the fall. However, winter is actually the best time to lay it. The snowfall you may have will tamp it down and hold it in place. With that said, you can get the benefits of pine mulch any time of the year.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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