Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
May 17, 2012 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bedford, VA
Posts: 257
|
Pine needles for mulch?
Is it safe to use pine needles to mulch around tomato plants?
These would be raked right out from under trees |
May 17, 2012 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SF Bay area Z9a
Posts: 821
|
As long as they are brown and dried up they should make a great, slightly acidic, mulch. Green needles contain terpenes which can stunt growth and stop seed germination so be sure yours are dry.
-Bill
__________________
Bill _______________________________________________ When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. -John Muir Believe those who seek the Truth: Doubt those who find it. -André Gide |
May 17, 2012 | #3 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
From the studies I have seen, the needles will have almost no effect on soil PH. I have mulched with it for years around my transplants, and I love it.
|
May 17, 2012 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
|
I love using pine needle mulch. Except, they are very pokey on the hands and difficult to sort all the pine cones out of.
But, other than that, make excellent mulch and for me, it's free. Free is always good. I've also found them a great soil conditioner, they break down in about one year. |
May 17, 2012 | #5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Northern Illinois ZONE 5a...wait now 5b
Posts: 906
|
Quote:
Austrian and Spruce needles can be tough on hands!
__________________
Brian |
|
May 19, 2012 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 587
|
The ultimate mulch, I think.
|
May 20, 2012 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Marietta, Ga
Posts: 83
|
Yesterday morning this subject to discussed on our local lawn and garden talk show on the radio. The host, Walter Reeves, agrees with you that pine needles doesn't change the pH.
|
May 22, 2012 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
|
The problem I have run into when using pine needles for mulch is the huge increase in pill bugs, roaches, and slugs. This is not too much of a problem for the tomatoes but when you come back and plant lettuce, cabbage and some other crops they cause real problems even if the mulch has been removed.
|
July 4, 2012 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Barber Spur, LA
Posts: 4
|
I have been using primarily pine needles for about 20 years and I have to agree with b54red. The ONLY problem I've had is pests, BUT, all mulches attract the bugs and the bugs are what aid in breaking the mulch down into rich soil. I'll keep using pine needles. I have never grown leafy greens before so I have had no real issues. I hope to add lettuce and cabbage and a few other greens to the gardens next spring, so I'm happy for the "heads up" from b54red! I'll try a clean bed for those!
|
|
|