Pine needles

[kathryn]

Hi all
Just wondered....
If i shred my neighbours christmas tree (after christmas of course) are the pine needles good for my compost heap and / or garden?
thanks
Kathryn ???

[kathryn]

[Derekthefox]

yes

Derekthefox :D

[terrace max]

I'm going to disagree here - the needles won't compost in a regular heap. And many real trees are sprayed with a fire retardant.

I shred mine and use it as a mulch under non-edible plants.

[kathryn]

do you think the needles would work as a slug deterrent around the plants?

[Derekthefox]

Well slugs don't like coarse textures, so you might be in with a chance ...

Derekthefox :D

[redimp]

During the course of the folk lore discussion (has gone a bit off the rails now  ;D) I think I spotted that pine needles are a good mulch for strawberries and improve their flavour so I think that might be where mine is going once the rest of the family have finished with it.  if I had my way I would shred it on Thursday and mulch my strawberries then.

Spread a little humbugness, as you go by.

[Mrs Ava]

Might shred mine.....mind you, don't think the plastic needles will have the same effect around my strawbs!  ;D

[Merry Tiller]

Pine needles contain a growth retardant I believe, that's why you don't get much thick undergrowth in a pine forrest

[Mrs Ava]

...or in the carpet under the Christmas tree!  Saves weeding it I suppose......  ;D ;D ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

I use mine as a mulch around my runners to try and keep teh pesky slugs away!

[Derekthefox]

And does it work DP?

Derekthefox :D

[Garden Manager]

I dont need to have  a real christmas tree to get pine needles. I have 10 naturaly growing ones at the top of my garden that produce TONS of the things. What i can be bothered to collect up get mixed up with other leaves in a leaf mould bin. The rest become a natural mulch, particularly around plants that prefer more neutral to acid conditions (i garden on chalk), like raspberries.

Reading about the 'growth retardant' in them makes me worry a bit though.... ??? :-\ :o

[Ceratonia]

Do a google search for 'Allelopathy' if you're interested. It means plants which do something chemically to prevent other plants growing nearby. As Merry Tiller said, you don't get anything else growing in a pine forest - partly because it's dark, but also because decomposing pine needles will inhibit germination of other plants - mainly because they make the soil very acid.

Pines aren't the only things which do this. Walnuts and sunflowers(!) are other plants which wage chemical warfare on their neighbours. Sunflowers are being investigated as a natural source of herbicides.

[kathryn]

yikes...now im confused, is it worth me shredding do you think?

[Derekthefox]

You're not the only one Kathryn ...

Derekthefox :D

[Ceratonia]

I think they're fine as a mulch or on the compost heap - just remember that they take ages to decompose and that they'll make the soil more acid.

[jennym]

Pine needles do contain compounds which inhibit bacterial growth, there is an extract from a piece of research here if interested:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1744-7909.2005.00081.x

[kathryn]

i think maybe i'll just use the needles around slug susceptible plants to see if it keeps them away and around my pond to hopefully keep the cats away
Thanks for all your advice
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas
Kathryn

[terrace max]

On the compost heap point - I think the presence of too many needles would risk suffocating the heap...

[the_snail]

The best way toy rot down pine needles is to put them in a bin bag or two. Leave them for a year behind the shed then use them the following year in spring as a mulck for your fruit bushes or heathers.

The_Snail