tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post6902843645649342544..comments2024-01-30T03:18:27.988-06:00Comments on Garden of Aaron: Eating My Words on Pine StrawAaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-57537021858681571662017-09-15T15:31:15.689-05:002017-09-15T15:31:15.689-05:00Hi Anon,
I moved to northern Arizona a few years b...Hi Anon,<br />I moved to northern Arizona a few years back. I have been using decomposed tree nuggets like you now use. They look good, keep down weeds and most important in AZ keep moisture in the ground. I dont have to buy them, i just drive into the forest and find a decomposing log and fill up my buckets.<br />MarkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-47602885275781705512017-07-27T23:51:40.047-05:002017-07-27T23:51:40.047-05:00Thanks for your comment, Toodle.
Per Clemson, pin...Thanks for your comment, Toodle.<br /><br />Per Clemson, pine straw actually can help prevent sporulation of the artillery fungus. Apparently it's the hardwood mulches that are actually vulnerable to this fungus - http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/hot_topics/2010/03artillery_fungus.htmlAaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-90397465088962981222017-07-27T17:12:20.512-05:002017-07-27T17:12:20.512-05:00One thing not mentioned is artilerary fungus which...One thing not mentioned is artilerary fungus which you can get with pine mulch. It can play havoc with your cars and siding. Lots of rain in PA this season and major problem with this fungus. Can happen in bagged and even organic mulch.Toodlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12809508835150316043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-32828185360361422742017-06-21T08:47:01.816-05:002017-06-21T08:47:01.816-05:00Hi Sharon,
Yikes! That sounds unpleasant.
Maybe ...Hi Sharon,<br /><br />Yikes! That sounds unpleasant.<br /><br />Maybe you can find some nice plants that like full shade and use them to replace some of the pine straw this autumn?Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-66886601033037928692017-06-21T08:33:14.087-05:002017-06-21T08:33:14.087-05:00Just saying..... We are having bad mold problem in...Just saying..... We are having bad mold problem in pine straw that the house builders put down in back, where no sun shines. Being one more problem to your list.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12629540108785536242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-9416083243157050192017-06-02T12:18:21.133-05:002017-06-02T12:18:21.133-05:00Hi Anon,
If you have lots of pine trees on your p...Hi Anon,<br /><br />If you have lots of pine trees on your property, it sounds like pine straw would be a great free source of mulch - especially if your property isn't a windy hilltop (like mine) where the pine needles are prone to blow everywhere.<br /><br />I also still feel like pine straw tends to swamp perennials more than other mulches, but again if you're just looking for a mulch Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-69125764706923434312017-06-01T19:17:52.777-05:002017-06-01T19:17:52.777-05:00Hi Aaron! I discovered your post while doing a go...Hi Aaron! I discovered your post while doing a google search for pine straw to spread out in a small area near my back yard patio as a "floor" for a small seating area. I live in north central Florida, in a yard full of pine trees. I tried using the needles last autumn, and they looked great, but break down fairly quickly, especially with traffic. I was unaware that copperheads likeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-32980978019895613212017-05-18T12:52:18.159-05:002017-05-18T12:52:18.159-05:00Free and local too! Definitely sounds like the bes...Free and local too! Definitely sounds like the best option. Good job :) Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-43949712602109038672017-05-18T12:50:25.097-05:002017-05-18T12:50:25.097-05:00After having some tall pines felled on my property...After having some tall pines felled on my property (over 40) and having all the branches run through a chipper, I have been using the resulting arborist wood chip mulch in my gardens. I have over 150 roses that LOVE it. It doesn't fly around like pine straw because the needles are chopped up and the wood chips hold everything down. It is excellent at weed suppression, keeps the soil moist Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07932052972867806872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-60130567967076783972017-05-09T09:50:32.570-05:002017-05-09T09:50:32.570-05:00Well, you could certainly try hardwood mulch. Perh...Well, you could certainly try hardwood mulch. Perhaps the snakes and insects would find that denser mulch less appealing or think it offered less camouflage? <br /><br />More generally, I've come to believe that the best, most sustainable and long-term 'mulch' consists of groundcovers, preferably native groundcovers.<br /><br />Of course, finding the *right* groundcovers can be a Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-50249152421232412482017-05-08T18:55:59.840-05:002017-05-08T18:55:59.840-05:00I'm on this page looking for an alternative to...I'm on this page looking for an alternative to pine needles. We've been laying pine needles in our beds for many years. We end up doing this twice a year to keep it looking "fresh". The reason I'm looking for an alternate type of mulch is SNAKES! At least once a year, I kill a copperhead in my pine needles. I live in a subdivision in SC. My neighbor has killed two so Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-69037993302381454342016-09-29T13:53:56.858-05:002016-09-29T13:53:56.858-05:00Thanks for sharing!
What a lovely garden you have...Thanks for sharing!<br /><br />What a lovely garden you have :)Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-49220436161191142552016-09-29T04:49:16.035-05:002016-09-29T04:49:16.035-05:00Hi Aaron - I should have thought this through earl...Hi Aaron - I should have thought this through earlier, but I have finally assembled some photos on a gallery page on my blog! <br /><br />https://quarteracrekiwi.wordpress.com/my-garden/mummapukekohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06143945374169923836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-29973105998635865562016-09-29T03:43:07.219-05:002016-09-29T03:43:07.219-05:00This is an area of one of the vegetable beds which...This is an area of one of the vegetable beds which has been planted out and mulched with pine needles.<br />[img]https://quarteracrekiwi.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/mulch.jpg[/img]<br /><br />Because of the mulch and compost attracting so many worms (and also because it is a no-dig garden) we have had to resort to some extreme measures to detract the birds! She is working very well, I'm mummapukekohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06143945374169923836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-32455570908445256322016-09-28T08:34:02.189-05:002016-09-28T08:34:02.189-05:00Hm. Sorry it's such a hassle.
On recent posts...Hm. Sorry it's such a hassle.<br /><br />On recent posts (like http://www.gardenofaaron.com/2016/09/doomed-caterpillars.html), I now use a comment management system called IntenseDebate. <br /><br />It lets you insert photos directly into comments with a code.. (I tried to post the code here, but Blogger won't let me publish it. It says "Your HTML cannot be accepted: Tag is not Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-69207556975309224622016-09-28T03:20:50.125-05:002016-09-28T03:20:50.125-05:00I do have some photos, but I can't see how to ...I do have some photos, but I can't see how to attach them here. I need to keep up my own blog - am too busy gardening though!<br /><br />This might be how do it! <br /><br />If you want to let your visitors know how to post images in blogger comments, then go to Dashboard > Settings > Posts and Comments and look for the Comment Form Message section, there you need to click on "Addmummapukekohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06143945374169923836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-84933273425810390072016-09-26T13:10:35.692-05:002016-09-26T13:10:35.692-05:00Sounds like it has worked out great for you. Do yo...Sounds like it has worked out great for you. Do you have any photos? Sounds like you've perfected the no-dig garden!! :)Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-10150770122007381182016-09-25T18:59:48.243-05:002016-09-25T18:59:48.243-05:00The pine needles are spread on the flower borders ...The pine needles are spread on the flower borders at during late Summer/Autumn when the flowers etc start to die back, but first I spread a layer of compost, (which we make ourselves). I just leave the garden to do its winter thing. Same with the vegie garden.<br /><br />Come the Spring, many seedlings push through the pine straw, which include self-sown annuals and weeds, too. There may also mummapukekohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06143945374169923836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-43636042277362231792016-09-25T12:55:00.172-05:002016-09-25T12:55:00.172-05:00Thanks for your comment! It's awesome to get f...Thanks for your comment! It's awesome to get feedback on mulch all the way from New Zealand! :)<br /><br />It sounds like the pine straw is a good option in your climate. Interesting info about how you think rain filters through pine straw but gets blocked by mulch.<br /><br />Question -- How do you manage the pine straw among the perennials, annuals and bulbs? Or do you just use it in Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-36185850628533227752016-09-24T02:58:08.346-05:002016-09-24T02:58:08.346-05:00Hi Aaron - I'm in New Zealand & I live on ...Hi Aaron - I'm in New Zealand & I live on a flat inner city quarter acre section. I have ornamentals, fruit trees & a huge vegie garden. I have mulched with both pine bark nuggets and pine needles, and prefer needles for a number of reasons. We have little rain here on the East Coast & rain does not penetrate through bark nuggets. I lost a number of roses even though I watered mummapukekohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06143945374169923836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-10894245772515193932016-08-21T15:17:02.120-05:002016-08-21T15:17:02.120-05:00I haven't had the annual 60 mph Santa Ana wind...I haven't had the annual 60 mph Santa Ana winds yet this year. I need to spread the pine needles anyway for fire safety and it all stays on site doing good building soil and sequestering carbon. The small clumps seem to stick to the rough exposed decomposed granite. I place it in openings and around perennials for soil erosion, temperature and moisture control. I noticed that in time roots Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182882623938659973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-44012838272334602252016-08-21T14:20:05.252-05:002016-08-21T14:20:05.252-05:00Hi Tim!
Sounds like you've found a solution t...Hi Tim!<br /><br />Sounds like you've found a solution that works well for you.<br /><br />Do you just use the pine mulch under trees and shrubs or do you try to use it as a mulch among perennials?<br /><br />I'm intrigued that it doesn't blow away in your windy location, but whatever you're doing sounds like it's working well for you - so kudos! :)Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-4385251192468983912016-08-21T13:53:35.699-05:002016-08-21T13:53:35.699-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182882623938659973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-60643843559955027002016-08-21T13:52:39.521-05:002016-08-21T13:52:39.521-05:00I live in a windy high desert area where pine tree...I live in a windy high desert area where pine trees do well as wind breaks and I have a surplus of pine straw I need to spread out to reduce the fire danger. I skim off small clumps with a pitch fork keeping in its original knitted condition with a little space between each clump when placed on bare soil as a mulch. Doesn't blow away and I let nature do the rest. I sometimes irrigate with Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182882623938659973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617603620841382713.post-30991748460815066632016-07-24T13:46:27.954-05:002016-07-24T13:46:27.954-05:00Thanks for the advice, Ginger.
I suspect you'...Thanks for the advice, Ginger.<br /><br />I suspect you're right - DEEP pine straw that is thoroughly watered should do a good job of blocking weeds.<br /><br />I do think the necessary depth makes it difficult to use pine straw in a bed where you want to have perennials and annuals, but if you're just landscaping with trees and shrubs, lots of pine straw can probably make a pretty Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.com