Gardening in MWV & the Surrounding Areas

Flora · Branching Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Posts: 219

I've got a ton of pine needles to rake up, but as I was planting my garden yesterday it occurred to me that I might be able to use them as weed control around strawberries, veggies, etc. I don't know if they'd be good as mulch, since they don't seem to break down to well.

Any suggestions/thoughts/experience with this?

vilcat · Branching Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 212 Location: Jackson

Flora,
Pine needles make an excellent mulch for acid loving plants like strawberries, blueberries, azaleas, etc.
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GardenAssociates.com · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:52 pm Post subject:

It's a super mulch around heathers and mixing into the soil a fist full for potato planting to help prevent scab....

One of our best natural resources for those who have big pines on the property....Can't grow grass, grow Rhodos and let the needles fall where they may ;)
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barkingcat

Folks --

I'm new to this forum and happened across it while trying to search on-line for pine straw to use as mulch.

I live a bit further south (Bristol, near Newfound Lake) than the Mount Washington Valley (although I am in that area frequently for hiking) and I wonder if anyone knows of somewhere in Central NH where I can buy pine straw?

Ideally I would be able to buy limited quantities for a reasonable price whenever I need it (100 pounds here, 100 pounds there) and not have to go to far to get it or even have it delivered.

Feedback from anyone would be appreciated...thanks!

Scarlet Pimpernel · Site Admin Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 350

Welcome Barkingcat, this forum is for any and all who want to discuss gardening, local is only secondary!

The only place I have ever seen Pine Straw is from a place like Paris Farmers Union, bagged and shipped from Georgia.
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barkingcat · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:20 pm Post subject:

Scarlet Pimpernel --

Thanks for the welcome and the information about the pine straw (pine needles).

My limited experience so far in searching for the stuff is that it can be had pretty cost-effectively from places like Georgia or North Carolina -- you can even buy as little as 30 pounds of the stuff from a few places.

The problem, though, is that the shipping cost is as much or more than the actual cost of the pine straw (unless you order a truckload).

So, I was hoping to find someone local who was selling the stuff and save money while at the same time helping support the local economy.

I'll keep looking, but if anyone else knows of somewhere local selling the stuff, please let me know.

Thanks!

GardenAssociates.com · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:14 am Post subject:

Welcome barkingcat, pine straw/needles are a rare commidity here....Our local pines produce small, short & skinny needles the opposite of it's southern consent, that's why most if not all pine needles will be shipped from that area - same with pine bark mulch nuggets - all shipped from the south.

When was the last time you saw Paris Farmers' selling it Scarlet?
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