Do you know that you can use the leaves of pine trees in various ways? Here are some of the best Pine Needles Uses In Garden!
Pine needles might appear to be useless and something that is a waste of space and unpleasant in the garden, but actually has many benefits. After reading this article, you will be astonished by the Pine Needles Uses in Garden!
Check Out Our Article on Pine Nuts here!
1. Mulching
Mulch is defined as the material, used for covering the bare surface of the soil to protect it from various factors such as loss of moisture, overgrowth of weed, erosion and other adverse effects. Pine needles are easy to use and inexpensive mulching material and can be used in their raw form. This makes them convenient to use and economical.
2. Weed growth
Pine needles are useful for weed growth control as they are potent in blocking sunlight and intercept weed germination. They can also be used to dress flower gardens to prevent weed growth, which in turn gives an aesthetic appearance to your flower gardens.
Check out Our Article on a Weed-Free Garden Tips here!
3. Decomposes Slowly
Pine needles break-down slowly and take an extended period to decompose, enriching your garden soil for a longer time. This saves you time and energy, both, required for redressing if you used any other substitute. Keep in mind that you have to avoid using it in the area that you have to use for planting within a short duration of time.
4. Irrigation Benefits
Pine needles provide a useful cover for topsoil by forming a loose mat. This mat creates a porous layer over the top surface of the soil which allows water to seep through it. Due to these it prevents soil erosion and is beneficial in irrigation, especially in hilly regions.
5. Acidic Nature
When Pine needles decompose they turn the soil acidic. However, you should note that they lose their acidic nature considerably after a short duration of time when they turn dry. Also, not all plants flourish in acidic soil, so you should use pine needles according to the plant you want to grow. Plants and trees such as camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas, fuchsias, gardenias, ferns, dogwoods, magnolias, holly and evergreens flourish in acidic conditions.
6. Compost
Adding pine needles to compost will turn the mix more neutral. So, if you want to maintain the alkalinity of the soil, use pine needles for the best results. As it also helps in keeping the soil porous, ensuring the compost does not turn dense. Thereby leaving enough room for the air to flow through it. This, in turn, increases the rate of decomposition.
7. Moderate Temperature
Pine needles maintain the temperature of the soil and protect the topsoil from sunlight. It also helps the soil to retain its moisture content and creates a favorable environment for the survival of bacteria and fungi, thereby maintaining the fertility of the soil. If you live in cold regions, cover the garden soil with 3 to 5 inches of pine needle mulch. This is going to help the roots to remain active even if ground freezes.
