composting pine needles

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LisaAnne Fremont, IN Oct 31, 2008

I have just bought my first home, and have nearly 30 pine trees, and only one birch tree. I am interested in starting compost, but afraid the pine needles won't decompose, or will make the compost too acidic. There are a lot of bare roots and hardly any grass around the pine trees, and I would like to make a pine needle mulch to eventually be able to plant hostas and whatever around this large grove of trees.
Right now, we have piled the dead needles around the trunks, and it's about 2 feet high and i'm afraid this might encourage bugs to get into the bark of the trees. Anyone have any thoughts or ideas?

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Nov 01, 2008

I would pull the needles back from the trunks of the trees--it's never good to pile mulch of any sort right up around the tree trunk, that can hold moisture there and cause fungal problems. You always need to leave a space between the tree trunk and whatever you mulch with.

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JulieQ Bella Vista, AR(Zone 6b) Nov 01, 2008

Pine needles make a good mulch, and they will decompose, but I was alarmed by the 2 foot depth you stated. That is way too deep. Not good for the trees.

I would bet that whoever lived there before didn't keep the needles raked up from under the pine trees and that contributes to your not having much grass. I had 10 pines at my old house and it is a job, but you can get grass or other plants to grow eventually if you keep at it!

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) Nov 01, 2008

Azaleas and other acid loving shrubs would love it under those pine trees and they look so pretty. I've seen lots of azaleas under pine trees down here. If azaleas can't survive in your climate, maybe rhodies could. I think they like acidic soil too.

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Twincol Fresno, CA(Zone 9b) Nov 02, 2008

I purloined two garbage sacks of pine needles from a GF's place. While I keep an ongoing stash of Fruitless Mulberry leaves working toward mulch, I wanted to be able to lay the needles out in my beds under my azaleas. I'm looking to snag a couple more sacks this year.

She informed me, BTW, that pine needles won't break down properly, but turn gooey instead. Hmmm, maybe I'll start a new pile of mulch-in-progress with the addition of pine needles for those azaleas. That'd be cool, eh? Literally, for the plants! LOL

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