According to a expert , pine needle mulch is good for garden soil but does nothing to the acidity .
Erica George Dines
Gardeners have been put pine acerate leaf mulch , also known as pine straw , on acid - do it plant like azaleas , camelia , andblueberriesforever in the belief that pine needles glower the territory pH as they decompose . Other gardeners believe that pine needle mulch will make soilinhospitable to some plantsby making the grease too acidic . They avoid pine needle mulch because they cerebrate it ’s harmful to their garden .
Credit:Erica George Dines
But is there really any true statement to these notions or is it just agarden myththat pine needles make soil more acidulent ? We asked an expert to finalize the head .
Jack LeCroyis the regional extension agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System , specialize in menage grounds , gardens , and home plate pests .
The Myth About Pine Needles
So , does pine needle mulch make soil more acidic ? “ It ’s a myth that pine straw acidifies your soil , ” says Jack LeCroy , regional extension agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System . The myth that languish needles depressed soil pH likely uprise from the fact that pine needles are acidulent when they come off the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
“ They can be anywhere from 3 to 4 on the pH scale when they fall , ” LaCroy says . For comparison , orange juice and acid rain also have a pH of 3 to 4 . So , those pine needle are indeed acid when they are new , but they do n’t detain that way .
“ By the time they decompose into the grease , pine needle are essentially indifferent , ” LeCroy say . Soil microbes , insect , and humidity neutralize the sour of the pine needle as they break them down , he says .
Another cistron contribute to thegarden myththat pine needles lower soil pH is that the soil aroundpine treestends to be acidulous . Many people conceive the tree ’ falling needles create that acidic soil , but the truth is pine trees are there because they thrive in acid soil . pine tree grow where the grease is acidic ; they do n’t make the soil acidic by growing there .
Why to Use Pine Needles for Mulch
As the pine straw breaks down , it add together good organic matterto the grunge that provides nutrients to flora . “ Pine needles make excellent mulch . Once it settle into position and go to decompose , " say LaCroy , " it creates a mat that hold wet in the soil , suppresses mourning band , and keep the grunge cool . " Pine needles bring out down lento , so a layer of pine needles several inch heavyset will last a long clock time .
If you live someplace with heap of pine trees , pine straw is a cheesy choice for mulch — or even devoid , if you rake it yourself .
LeCroy prefers pine needle mulch to pine nugget mulch because the pine needles wo n’t wash away in heavy rainfall like nuggets do , and pine acerate leaf mulchworks well on slopes .
The Best Way to Make Soil More Acidic
LeCroy says sulfur is the best way to sour your soil . you may buy sulfur powder in base at garden provision core for use of goods and services as a soil amendment . For constituted plants , top - garb the soil . For new plant life , add sulphur at the metre of planting . S willchange the soil pHinstantly as soon as it dissolve into the soil .
Test the Soil Before Adding Amendments
Before youamend your soil , quiz the pH , LeCroy says . Do n’t don the pH is off and amend the dirt blindly . “ It ’s like going to a doctor ’s office where they do a line test before they prescribe any treatments for you . They ’re not operate to look at you and say you need vitamins A and D. They are fit to persist some tests first , ” LeCroy pronounce .
you could test your soil yourself with an at - nursing home kit or take a sample to your local extension office . After you receive the test answer , you could fine - tune your soil pH aright with the right amount of sulfur or other amendment .
