Re: redwood needles for mulch
Someone else may be more knowledgeable about compost requirements, but what is
sold as "compost" at most garden stores in this area (e.g. Home Depot,
Yardbirds) is nitrolized redwood shavings,sawdust and bark. I have found that
it works fine, but since the particles are so small, it has to be worked into
the soil/litter (I know some advocate not working anything into the soil), or
it hardens into an impenetrable mass on the surface that repels water.
You could certainly use it where you didn't mind having a slight acid soil
(which is preferable for most plants except California natives or other plants
used to an alkaline soil), and if you mixed it in with an equal quantity of
other non-redwood material, it should not come out to acid. You could always
use it in the shade areas of your garden. The redwood droppings, however,
decompose very slowly on the surface, so you are better off composting them.
Barbara Sargent wrote:
> neighbor's redwood tree droppings (needles?).
> Would the droppings be ok to use as mulch or in the compost? I worry about
> it being too acidic.
