Tried using pine needles as mulch under my piñon trees last fall

After three months of heavy snow and wind, every single pine needle stayed put while my store-bought bark mulch washed into the street, so is there some trick to making regular mulch stay in place or do I just switch to pine needles for good?

2 comments

2 Comments

keithbennett5d ago

That reminds me of the time my neighbor tried using straw bales for a Halloween display and they got so waterlogged they sprouted wheat all over his yard by spring. Pine needles have that natural interlocking shape that just works better in windy spots. Bark mulch floats away because its too light and chunkier. If you want regular mulch to stay put try mixing in some compost or topsoil to weigh it down. But honestly you found a winner with the pine needles so stick with it.

paulw875d ago

Did that neighbor ever have issues with the straw catching fire from the heat building up inside? I've heard dry straw bales can smolder and ignite if they get packed too tight against each other. Seems like you'd want to keep an eye on the moisture level with pine needles too, especially if they pile up deep.