Property News · April 9, 2016

Ask Alys Fowler: are pine needles a problem?


Expert advice on coping with conifer leavesAre pine needles the friend or foe of gardeners?All leaves are our friends, because they break down to make leaf mould. This is magic stuff that can be used as seed compost, or as a mulch for woodland plants, or added to any soil to increase moisture and improve root growth by boosting fungal activity.Some leaves take longer than others to break down. The quickest leaf mould tends to be from beech, hornbeam or oak. Pine needles are not quick to rot down, but when they do, they are acidic, making perfect leaf mould for ericaceous plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, heathers and pieris. Continue reading…

Source : theguardian.com
Read more…Ask Alys Fowler: are pine needles a problem?

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