On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:35:32 -0500, "Jim Lewis"
wrote:

Methinks one shouldn't laugh unless one is certain.


Methinks you are correct, my apologies.....

staring into corner dunce hat on....

"animaux" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 16:36:52 -0800, Tom Jaszewski
opined:

On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 09:25:15 -0500, "Jim Lewis"
wrote:

Blueberries are sensitive


maybe it's residual glyphosate.

Actually, blueberries (same family of roses) have very poor root systems
and depend highly
on a fungal mat being present.

Actually blueberries (Vaccinium) are in the Ericaceae family, not Rosaceae.
But, like rhododendrons and azaleas (also Ericaceae), they do not have a
deep root system and certainly do benefit from beneficial soil fungi to
assist with nutrient uptake.

pam - gardengal

Not unless your plants like acid.
"Bill Donovan" wrote in message
...
Are pine needles (ground up with a lawn mower) good for compost?

Thanks

Bill Donovan

"FOW" wrote in message
...
Not unless your plants like acid.
"Bill Donovan" wrote in message
...
Are pine needles (ground up with a lawn mower) good for compost?

Thanks

Bill Donovan

Once composted pine needles have no effect on the ph of soil. Go ahead and
use them for compost. Personally, I find pine needles are fantastic for
winter protection or mulch, which means I didn't compost them. I wish I had
access to pine needles where I live now.

John

"Bill Donovan" wrote in message
...
Are pine needles (ground up with a lawn mower) good for compost?
Thanks
Bill Donovan

Should be okay. I've used them in tree basins for years with no
problems but in our desert climate the soil as well as the irrigation
water is alkaline. Whole needles are slow to break down due the resins
but grinding them should help. I would also be interested in knowing if
anybody has any knowledge about the detrimental effect of the resins, if
any, on plants.

Olin

I am really not sure about the effects of resin from pine needles, But I
have 28 large pine trees and all the needles go in the garden, around blue
berry bushes and in the compost bins, this I have been doing at this
locations for 22 years now and all my friends marvel at my garden.
Just my $.02

--
Sam
Along the Grand Strand of Myrtle Beach,SC
"omi" wrote in message
news
"Bill Donovan" wrote in message
...
Are pine needles (ground up with a lawn mower) good for compost?
Thanks
Bill Donovan

Should be okay. I've used them in tree basins for years with no
problems but in our desert climate the soil as well as the irrigation
water is alkaline. Whole needles are slow to break down due the resins
but grinding them should help. I would also be interested in knowing if
anybody has any knowledge about the detrimental effect of the resins, if
any, on plants.

Olin

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 17:47:13 -0500, " Sam" wrote:

I am really not sure about the effects of resin from pine needles, But I
have 28 large pine trees and all the needles go in the garden, around blue
berry bushes and in the compost bins, this I have been doing at this
locations for 22 years now and all my friends marvel at my garden.
Just my $.02

I understood that there was a chemical in pine needles that retarded
growth. Your experience is oppositie from that. Wonder what is true?

John Bachman wrote in
:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 17:47:13 -0500, " Sam" wrote:

I am really not sure about the effects of resin from pine needles, But
I have 28 large pine trees and all the needles go in the garden,
around blue berry bushes and in the compost bins, this I have been
doing at this locations for 22 years now and all my friends marvel at
my garden. Just my $.02

I understood that there was a chemical in pine needles that retarded
growth. Your experience is oppositie from that. Wonder what is true?


It's possible that the chemical breaks down over time, hence it is okay for
compost. As for mulch, the chemical only affects *some* plants, so your
strawberries, blueberries, random acidophilic plants, et al., based on
empirical observation, should be okay. I posted a couple of links earlier,
but they were just the first relevant ones from a yahoo search. The first
one might have been just a thesis proposal and so very light on content.