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Mulch vs Pine Straw
Posted on 3/25/19 at 12:29 pm
Posted on 3/25/19 at 12:29 pm
What say the new board? Ripped out some hedges in my front yard, will be putting in a good bit of new plantings in the next few weeks. First spring in this home, previous owner had pine straw down in all the gardening beds, yet I've always put down mulch at previous home. Is this purely an aesthetic decision, or are there some horticultural reasons to choose one or the other I'm unaware of?
11
Posted on 3/25/19 at 12:38 pm to EveryonesACoach
Cypress Bark
Posted on 3/25/19 at 12:39 pm to EveryonesACoach
quote:
Mulch vs Pine Straw
For me, I love Pine Straw. Nothing looks better than a bunch of fresh pine straw in a bed.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 12:43 pm to EveryonesACoach
supposedly pine straw is better at weed control, and i think it's cheaper
i would think it also breaks down easier, but I do think mulch tends to look better in most applications
i stick with pine straw because at my last house, I couldn't get the mulch to stay in the beds when it rained
i would think it also breaks down easier, but I do think mulch tends to look better in most applications
i stick with pine straw because at my last house, I couldn't get the mulch to stay in the beds when it rained
Posted on 3/25/19 at 1:21 pm to Croacka
quote:
supposedly pine straw is better at weed control, and i think it's cheaper
Pine straw interlocks a lot better and it takes less to make a dense mat of it. Plus like this guy mentioned, it breaks down easier, adding nutrients to the soil as it does so.
And yes, I agree mulch looks better, but pine straw is more efficient in my book.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 1:44 pm to gumbo2176
I've used both but can't imagine ever going back to mulch. If you do go that route use cypress as mentioned above. It's more insect resistant.
In my experience pin straw is superior by:
- easier to put down
- stays in place
- better at choking weeds
- Once you get a good base, fresh layer every season doesn't require much, nor do you have to clear out the old stuff
- Stays better looking longer
Mulch looks great when it first goes down, but after a month or so the color really falls off fast.
In my experience pin straw is superior by:
- easier to put down
- stays in place
- better at choking weeds
- Once you get a good base, fresh layer every season doesn't require much, nor do you have to clear out the old stuff
- Stays better looking longer
Mulch looks great when it first goes down, but after a month or so the color really falls off fast.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 1:45 pm to EveryonesACoach
if you only do mulch and add new once or twice a year without amending the soil as you go, hardwood mulch will ruin your flowerbeds.
Pine straw last longer, is IMHO better for your beds and looks better (IMHO)
Pine straw last longer, is IMHO better for your beds and looks better (IMHO)
Posted on 3/25/19 at 2:07 pm to EveryonesACoach
All of the above reasons are correct in picking pine straw-- it's what I use exclusively-- but I prefer to use the bags of "crushed" pine straw mulch, rather than bales of uncrushed pine straw. Uncrushed kind of thatches itself and "builds up" higher-- kind of bulky, sort of hard to spread around and get to "lay down" in the garden especially around the small, freshly planted flowers. The crushed stuff spreads real easily, and it also goes far; I swear a bag of crushed pine straw gives about the same coverage as TWO bags of bagged cypress or other mulch.
This post was edited on 3/25/19 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 3/25/19 at 2:24 pm to BRich
i was looking for a product like this but don't have any experience with it
i find spreading the bales of pine straw to be a huge PITA compared to bagged mulch
i did watch some videos that stated that long needle pine is far superior to the junk bales that HD and Lowes typically sell. The nursery stuff is fresher, retains color longer, and has far less sticks, trash, and pine cones in it
hopefully the bagged needles have some of the same qualities
i find spreading the bales of pine straw to be a huge PITA compared to bagged mulch
i did watch some videos that stated that long needle pine is far superior to the junk bales that HD and Lowes typically sell. The nursery stuff is fresher, retains color longer, and has far less sticks, trash, and pine cones in it
hopefully the bagged needles have some of the same qualities
Posted on 3/25/19 at 2:25 pm to EveryonesACoach
Pine straw, the natural undyed kind. It is renewable: the trees grow & drop new needles every year.
Cypress bark mulch is harvested from logged cypress trees. Anyone living in coastal Louisiana should not support cypress logging. Those swamps are critically important to flood control by reducing storm surge, to biodiversity, etc. Cypress swamps are not protected from logging.
Cypress bark mulch is harvested from logged cypress trees. Anyone living in coastal Louisiana should not support cypress logging. Those swamps are critically important to flood control by reducing storm surge, to biodiversity, etc. Cypress swamps are not protected from logging.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 2:45 pm to BRich
Was not aware such a product existed. I wonder how they crush/ cut it into smaller pieces?
I have access to plenty of pine straw, maybe I could start a side hustle. lol
I have access to plenty of pine straw, maybe I could start a side hustle. lol
Posted on 3/25/19 at 3:13 pm to Croacka
quote:
i find spreading the bales of pine straw to be a huge PITA
Call Gomez Pine Straw. They're in & out in five minutes.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 8:35 pm to EveryonesACoach
Pine straw for me.
Just make sure to clean the old out before putting new down...if not you elevate the root bed.
Also, pine straw will not attract termites.
Just make sure to clean the old out before putting new down...if not you elevate the root bed.
Also, pine straw will not attract termites.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 8:49 pm to EveryonesACoach
A landscaper got me sold on this stuff. Most nurseries have it.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 8:57 pm to EveryonesACoach
Pine mulch can have termites
Posted on 3/25/19 at 8:59 pm to hungryone
quote:
Cypress bark mulch is harvested from logged cypress trees. Anyone living in coastal Louisiana should not support cypress logging. Those swamps are critically important to flood control by reducing storm surge, to biodiversity, etc. Cypress swamps are not protected from logging.
This is truth, boycott cypress mulch
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:02 pm to EveryonesACoach
Mulch for looks.
Pine Straw for weed control.
Take your pick.
There used to be a product called Nu-Mulch that you could spray on pine straw every couple of months to keep the color. Might check that out.
Pine Straw for weed control.
Take your pick.
There used to be a product called Nu-Mulch that you could spray on pine straw every couple of months to keep the color. Might check that out.
Posted on 3/25/19 at 9:41 pm to EveryonesACoach
Double ground hardwood or pine bark mulch maintains moisture and when it breaks down it adds nutrients (fertilizer) to the soil. You’ll get microorganisms and worms that are good for soil and your plants. This is what horticulturalist and gardeners will recommend.
Pine straw adds very little nutrients to soil and dries out quickly. I wouldn’t put it around your house if you grill or smoke in that area. It does look nice, it is easier to spread and goes further.
The colored mulch typically is chopped up pallets. There’s chemicals from the treated wood and the dyes in the mulch. Since it’s treated wood it lasts longer but the dyes will fade.
Pine straw adds very little nutrients to soil and dries out quickly. I wouldn’t put it around your house if you grill or smoke in that area. It does look nice, it is easier to spread and goes further.
The colored mulch typically is chopped up pallets. There’s chemicals from the treated wood and the dyes in the mulch. Since it’s treated wood it lasts longer but the dyes will fade.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 6:03 am to BRich
quote:
bags of "crushed" pine straw mulch
Where do you get that? Typical places such as Lowes? I've never noticed it.
I've always used bales, but that looks like a great way to do some touch up work over the season or work around small/tight plantings.
Posted on 3/26/19 at 9:34 am to Twenty 49
quote:
Where do you get that? Typical places such as Lowes? I've never noticed it.
I live in Metairie, and get it at Perino's on Veterans Blvd. It's a different brand than that particular bag in the pic.
Martin's in Luling, Delta Sod in Jefferson also sell it. You may have to look around or go to a stand-alone garden center rather than a big-box store.
This post was edited on 3/26/19 at 9:35 am
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