How to Mulch a Garden with Pine Needles

Mulching with pine needles is easy and inexpensive.

Mulching spreads a protective material over the soil around the bases of plants. The simple process imparts numerous benefits to your garden, including reduced weed growth and moisture retention. Pine needles, widely available at garden centers, make an effective, long-lasting mulch, particularly around shrubs and trees. The natural acidity in the pine needles makes them an effective mulch for acid-loving plants, such as chrysanthemum, roses, garlic, mint and tomatoes.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Pine Needles

1. Wait until your plants are well-established (at least 4 inches tall) before mulching with pine needles.

2. Remove all weeds from around your plants.

3. Check your soil moisture levels. Add pine leaves in warm -- but not hot - weather with fairly high moisture in the soil.

4. Spread an even, 3-inch layer of needles on top of the soil between your plants.

5. Water the mulched area thoroughly.

6. Wait a minimum of three months before adding more pine needles. They break down very slowly, so a second application should not be needed before then.

References

• Virginia Cooperative Extension; Mulches for the Home Vegetable Garden; Diane Relf, et al.; May 2009
• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet; Mulching Landscape Plants; Dr. Mary Ann Rose, et al.