Composted Pine Needles

[Wasquechicks]

I'm new to chickens. I adopted an older flock this past fall. We live in a rural area, densely populated with pine trees. We have a huge pile of pine needles that has been growing for years. This is where all the needles carpeting the lawn end up. Coincidentally, next to this pile is where we put the coop. Our chickens don't have a run, they free range. This pile is their favorite place. They spend all day digging it up. Thanks to them, the pile has broken down very quickly. It's less than half its original size. The soil beneath looks rich and dark. I've heard that pine needles are acidic. Can I use these composted needles in my vegetable garden?

 

[Bugseye]

I'm not having any qualms about putting pine needles in my garden, as the pH is so high that anything that brings it down is, in moderation, a benefit. I suspect the raspberries are loving the pine needles too.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm new to chickens. I adopted an older flock this past fall. We live in a rural area, densely populated with pine trees. We have a huge pile of pine needles that has been growing for years. This is where all the needles carpeting the lawn end up. Coincidentally, next to this pile is where we put the coop. Our chickens don't have a run, they free range. This pile is their favorite place. They spend all day digging it up. Thanks to them, the pile has broken down very quickly. It's less than half its original size. The soil beneath looks rich and dark. I've heard that pine needles are acidic. Can I use these composted needles in my vegetable garden?

Yes. But, with that being said, you would be wise to have a soil test done, or at least test your pH. I'm guessing that the composted needles are not as acidic as the fresh ones are. You might want to check out the Back To Eden films. There are some gardeners who are of the mind set that if the soil is well fed, pH is not as much of a concern.

 

[drewskimac]

I want to bring this topic back to attention, because I myself placed pine needles in my garden as mulch today. I did research because I heard rumors of it lowering the souls pH. The sources I located all lead to the same general conclusion: the idea that using pine needles (especially as mulch) will lower the soil pH is a myth. These sources state that the pine needles themselves are acidic but once they are decomposed enough to actually add anything to the soil in terms of nutrition/pH they will have reached a neutral
pH and will not make the soil acidic. Does anybody have any new and improved thoughts on this? This is just the research I’ve done, and I would really like to hear about others experience of using pine straw (needles) in the vegetable garden.

 

[Below frigid]

I would not use them. Walk around in the pine forest, not much growing in the pine duff. Decomposed dead pine trees, something. Not much growing there. I live in a oak forest sprinkled with pines.

 

[drewskimac]

I would not use them. Walk around in the pine forest, not much growing in the pine duff. Decomposed dead pine trees, something. Not much growing there. I live in a oak forest sprinkled with pines.

Thanks for your input. I do see your point. I have to ask, is your suggestion based upon research or solely your interpretation of a pine forest? Keep in mind that my garden is very different from a pine forest. In fact, the only similarity is that there happens to be pine needles in the floor. There is no pine trees and no shade in my garden which may be major contributors to why you see nothing but pine growin in a pine forest!

 

[Below frigid]

Others say it's OK. Just compost well. I make my compost with oak leaves, wild grass and organic fed Chicken manure. I usually do a straw bale garden as well and at the end of the season I pile it up with some manure and let it cook all winter. It's the best. Straw is sterile no weeds!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Maybe it's just our area but there's lots growing under our pine trees.

 

[lazy gardener]

I say, use what ever leaves you can get your hands on. Pine is great. Oak is great. I have no qualms about using leaves that are attacked and blackened by the fungal spores that show up during a moist growing season. Those black fungus spots on leaves are IMO species specific, and will not hurt your garden plants.

I read the same study about pine needles. Once they start to break down, the acidity becomes a moot point. I used a pile of pine needles in my garden around my failing blueberries, and also put a couple bags in the chicken coop last fall. BTW, I have a fine dandelion crop and some strawberries and garlic growing up through the pine needles in the garden.

However, I would choose NOT to use walnut or cedar, b/c of the aleopathic properties of walnut, and the fact that cedar takes forever to break down. I don't have any idea if cedar is aleopathic, but would not be surprised.

 

[Duckstail]

I live in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey over a million Acres of pine out here...

Pine needles break down so slowly it's not going to affect the soils pH, they're actually pH neutral once they decompose.

pine trees grow where the soil is very Sandy Not to mention they dropped a lot of pine needles which make it difficult for other types of plants to shootout and get some sun when there's 3-5 inches of pine needles over the dirt. Where I have only some pine trees in my backyard everything grows. So dont worry about it u will be fine!!!

Compost away my friend!