RE: CULT: Pine needles
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: RE: CULT: Pine needles
- From: B* S* <B*@hsc.edu>
- Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 08:42:45 -0700 (MST)
I have used needles from shortleaf pine as winter mulch for years and have
not noticed any ill effects.
The mulch has to be removed promptly in spring. I then move the needles to
paths in the vegetable garden to suppress weeds.
I'm not sure about any allelopathic effect from pine needles, but if used
on bearded irises as a permanent mulch, or if such irises are planted under
a pine, it seems more likely that any effect would be due to soil
acidification and/or competition with pine roots, rather than an
allelopathic chemical from the pine needles.
I would question the use of white pine needles. They are much flimsier and
lighter than shortleaf pine needles and would,it seems to me, tend to
compact too much to be a successful winter mulch.
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@hsc.edu>
