Pine needles as mulch in veggie garden

[junkyardcat]

We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.

Thanks for your input:)
Angie

[Janet Baraclough..]

The message >
from "junkyardcat" > contains these words:

> We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
> pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
> idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
> think so:)

They won't :-) Nor does veg grown in lovely rich home made compost
taste of decayed vegetable matter, ancient manure or worms. Still, maybe
you needn't mention worms and manure.

Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
> hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.

Pine needles are a great mulch ime and slightly increase soil acidity,
so they are particularly good around anything that enjoys acid soil;
blueberries and strawberries for example.

Janet

[jam]

"junkyardcat" > wrote in message >...
> We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
> pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
> idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
> think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
> hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>
> Thanks for your input:)
> Angie

Of course you can use pine needles, your veg will not taste of pine it
will be great.

[jam]

"junkyardcat" > wrote in message >...
> We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
> pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
> idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
> think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
> hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>
> Thanks for your input:)
> Angie

Of course you can use pine needles, your veg will not taste of pine it
will be great.

[redclay]

jam > wrote in message
om...
> "junkyardcat" > wrote in message
>...
> > We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of
using
> > pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
> > idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
> > think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We
have
> > hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
> > Thanks for your input:)
> > Angie
> Of course you can use pine needles, your veg will not taste of pine it
> will be great.
Your husband is pulling your leg. Pine needles are acidic so you will have
to monitor your soil's pH and be ready to add some lime. Another thing to
do is run through the needles with the lawn mower before spreading around
your plants. It makes them easier to spread around the plants and makes for
a little denser layer.

[redclay]

jam > wrote in message
om...
> "junkyardcat" > wrote in message
>...
> > We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of
using
> > pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
> > idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
> > think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We
have
> > hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
> > Thanks for your input:)
> > Angie
> Of course you can use pine needles, your veg will not taste of pine it
> will be great.
Your husband is pulling your leg. Pine needles are acidic so you will have
to monitor your soil's pH and be ready to add some lime. Another thing to
do is run through the needles with the lawn mower before spreading around
your plants. It makes them easier to spread around the plants and makes for
a little denser layer.

[Joseph S. Larson]

Pine needles are a good mulch in that they let rainwater run thru well,
look attractive, don't bring weed seed into the garden like hay does.
Best of all, they have a chemical which inhibits seed germination, so is
good for preventing weed seed from sprouting. So, don't put the needles
on until your crop is well on it's way - you don't want your veggie
germination inhibited! I like to use themon my ornamental plantings,
and since they are slow to decompose, and thus don't add much organic
matter to the soil, I like to put some compost on first, scratch it in a
little, and then put on the needles. Lucky you to have them available -
I have to scour the town for them, and often am raking them up in our
local cemetery!
Wendy (not Joe, he's the undergardener)

junkyardcat wrote:

>We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
>pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
>idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
>think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
>hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>
>Thanks for your input:)
>Angie
>
>
>
>
>

--
Joseph S. Larson
27 Arnold Road
Pelham, MA 01002-9757
413-256-8256
http://myprofile.cos.com/larson358

[simy1]

"junkyardcat" > wrote in message >...
> We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
> pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
> idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
> think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
> hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>
> Thanks for your input:)
> Angie

If your soil pH is 6.5 or above, they will be great. If not, you may
want to correct the mulch by adding lime or wood ash, I am guessing
two lb of wood ash
per 100 sqft, if you have 2 inches of mulch. As others have pointed
out, this mulch will work only for established plants, if you plant
seeds in pine needles, even if properly composted, they will not
sprout. Too young seedlings will have similar problems.

[Joseph S. Larson]

Pine needles are a good mulch in that they let rainwater run thru well,
look attractive, don't bring weed seed into the garden like hay does.
Best of all, they have a chemical which inhibits seed germination, so is
good for preventing weed seed from sprouting. So, don't put the needles
on until your crop is well on it's way - you don't want your veggie
germination inhibited! I like to use themon my ornamental plantings,
and since they are slow to decompose, and thus don't add much organic
matter to the soil, I like to put some compost on first, scratch it in a
little, and then put on the needles. Lucky you to have them available -
I have to scour the town for them, and often am raking them up in our
local cemetery!
Wendy (not Joe, he's the undergardener)

junkyardcat wrote:

>We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
>pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
>idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
>think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
>hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>
>Thanks for your input:)
>Angie
>
>
>
>
>

--
Joseph S. Larson
27 Arnold Road
Pelham, MA 01002-9757
413-256-8256
http://myprofile.cos.com/larson358

[John Bachman]

Not a good idea. Pine needles have a chemical (I forget the name)
which retards growth. I learned this the hard way when I mulched my
acid-loving blueberries with pine needles and wondered why they would
not grow. Once I learned about the pine needles growth retarding
properties I removed the mulch and replaced it with compost. Nice
healthy blueberry bushes now.

JMHO

John

On 4 Apr 2004 11:58:28 -0700, (simy1) wrote:

>"junkyardcat" > wrote in message >...
>> We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
>> pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
>> idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
>> think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
>> hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>>
>> Thanks for your input:)
>> Angie
>
>If your soil pH is 6.5 or above, they will be great. If not, you may
>want to correct the mulch by adding lime or wood ash, I am guessing
>two lb of wood ash
>per 100 sqft, if you have 2 inches of mulch. As others have pointed
>out, this mulch will work only for established plants, if you plant
>seeds in pine needles, even if properly composted, they will not
>sprout. Too young seedlings will have similar problems.

[simy1]

"junkyardcat" > wrote in message >...
> We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
> pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
> idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
> think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
> hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>
> Thanks for your input:)
> Angie

If your soil pH is 6.5 or above, they will be great. If not, you may
want to correct the mulch by adding lime or wood ash, I am guessing
two lb of wood ash
per 100 sqft, if you have 2 inches of mulch. As others have pointed
out, this mulch will work only for established plants, if you plant
seeds in pine needles, even if properly composted, they will not
sprout. Too young seedlings will have similar problems.

[John Bachman]

Not a good idea. Pine needles have a chemical (I forget the name)
which retards growth. I learned this the hard way when I mulched my
acid-loving blueberries with pine needles and wondered why they would
not grow. Once I learned about the pine needles growth retarding
properties I removed the mulch and replaced it with compost. Nice
healthy blueberry bushes now.

JMHO

John

On 4 Apr 2004 11:58:28 -0700, (simy1) wrote:

>"junkyardcat" > wrote in message >...
>> We are getting ready to plant our veggie garden. We are thinking of using
>> pine needles to mulch around the plants to control weeds. Is this a good
>> idea? My husband is afraid the veggies will taste like pine, but I don't
>> think so:) Are pine needles a good mulch to use for veggie gardens? We have
>> hundreds of pine trees on our land, so it's readily available.
>>
>> Thanks for your input:)
>> Angie
>
>If your soil pH is 6.5 or above, they will be great. If not, you may
>want to correct the mulch by adding lime or wood ash, I am guessing
>two lb of wood ash
>per 100 sqft, if you have 2 inches of mulch. As others have pointed
>out, this mulch will work only for established plants, if you plant
>seeds in pine needles, even if properly composted, they will not
>sprout. Too young seedlings will have similar problems.