Pine Needles Vs Hardwood Mulch

You may need to allot a whole morning to spreading mulch depending on your square footage.

Pine needles vs hardwood mulch. Provides a better moisture barrier for plants. Pros for pine straw. It can help add extra nutrients to your soil. To provide you with a better understanding of the two here is a close look at the different factors and the way the two are similar or different.

They will hold where most mulches will slide or float during rain storms. Like pine straw wood mulch insulates soil during cold temps and cools it during the summer heat. Pine needles aka pine straw hardwood mulch is alkaline. Hardwood mulch is heavier so it s not as easy to move but it s usually a little better for the soil as it decomposes.

Pine needles are easier to place in the beds and also cost about as much as mulch. It s harder to spread. Pine needles are the best solution if your property is on a steep slope. If budget is an important consideration then pine straw is a great choice.

Pine needles are acidic. It stays in place better than pine straw. On a positive note properly manufactured hardwood mulch releases alkaline benefits to soil as it decomposes raising the ph level a bit. They are light and fluffy so spreading them around is a piece of cake and they don t compact much as they decompose so you don t have to worry about them becoming too thick or forming a rain impervious mat.

However they do biodegrade more quickly and therefore need to be replenished more frequently which offsets. Nonetheless this price benefit is noticeable only in the short term. The advantages of mulch over pine needles include. Pine needles can work as mulch pine needles also known as pine straw make fine mulch for some flower beds.

Here is a example of the finished look of mulch. Pine straw mulch comes from pine tree needles which are raked and baled for use as mulch so the product is renewable and is naturally sourced. Mulch performs a key role in an attractive healthy garden or landscape but the array of choices can prove daunting. It s cheaper easier to handle and transport.

It stays in place longer than pine straw. It breaks down quicker than pine straw so it seems to not last as long. Benefits of using mulch. Pine needles are less expensive and go further.

Some people prefer the aesthetic look of pine straw over mulch especially in areas with dense pine tree cover. Pine bark and hardwood mulches make up just two. You may need to amend soil to counteract this if your plants have a strong preference.