Are pine needles a good mulch for ALL garden flowers?

I understand some plants like alkaline soil and others acidic soil so if I just use pine needles which I can get by the ton from the adjacent vacant lot will it do for everything. I have a variety of many plants. They are all doing well but I really know nothing about horticulture. I do say a little prayer that St. Francis will help me do it right so maybe he has directed me to someone here for advice on mulch. Thx all

Are pine needles a good mulch for ALL garden flowers?
A gift from St. Francis in the form of a rabbit....





wanna take some advise from one who wreally know about dig'n in the dirt? unless your garden is full of native or desert plants, almost all soil can benifit from using pine needles as a mulch. i got friends in california who would kill for what you have in your adjacent lot. me pal Elmer has a beautiful garden. when he ain't out hunt'n he is doing his horticultural stuff. mind you, he didn't learn his garden stuff from no school, just from what he learned in his own garden. well any who, me pal Elmer saz that ya can't go wrong using them pine needles in your garden. if you had a look see at his beautiful flowers and his wonderful veggie garden, you'd say he knows his stuff. i don't know how he does it, but his carrots are something to behold. the only problem i have with pine needles is getting poked in me nose when digging a new hole. but where ever i did under a pine tree, the soil is soft and rich. now St Francis ain't gonna send you no bunny that's gonna fib to you. and this bunny saz them pine needles from next door are a gift to you, so go get 'um and enjoy. happy gardening.


p.s. how 'bout plant'n a few carrots while you are at it?
Reply:Cute! :-) Report It

Reply:Very cute, but also incorrect. Carrots are one of the more pH sensitive veggies and they don't do well in soil that is acidic. Pine needles are acidic, so the soil pH needs to be tested and adjusted when using Pine needles.





I guess I was going for the correct answer, not a cute one.... Report It

Reply:Heathers, Azaleas and Rhodo's like acidic soil so they'll be fine there but not too much -keep testing your soil.
Reply:I don't know about flowers but I sure like them on my blueberries and strawberries.
Reply:i see them used a lot (ct).
Reply:I use them for my roses and they work great!
Reply:Pine needle are very acidic! That being said, you can use them and lime well. They break down very slowly by themselves, hence their use as mulch.





Test the soil once in the spring and again in June and adjust the Ph with lime. Should work OK.