Bird_small
Reputation: 230
Follow 0
Follow 1

How long does it take for pine needles to decompose?

Our neighbors cut down their pine tree last month. But my front yard is still covered in pine needles. How long will it take until that land is more usable for plantings?

All Day Breakfast asked in Trees & Shrubs about 1 year ago | Report

Answer this question or share it with a smart friend:

Avatar_default
Type your answer here…

Asker's Favorite

  • Img_2864_small
    Reputation: 203
    Follow 0

    Those things take a purdy long time to break down. You may want to rake them up and use them as mulch in your new blueberry patch that you could plant there! (blueberries like acidic soil). Even when raked, your soil will be acidic for some time from pine needle duff. Get out the lime and lime away, in order to balance your soil's pH.

    Or, if you are interested in planting natives, they may very well take to your soil quickly as most are acid-tolerant. Pretty ones: red-flowering currant, nine bark, salal, elder, rhodies. Then you would help begin to build back the wildlife habitat lost from your neighbor's tree-felling.

    Sarah Cassidy answered in Trees & Shrubs about 1 year ago | Report
    Comment on this answer
    Share this answer with a friend:
Latest Greatest

2 Other Answers

  • Gold-head_small
    Reputation: 6000
    Follow 6

    Why can't you just rake them up, or push them to one side? They shouldn't stop you from planting anything you want. Pine needles make excellent mulch, too.

    Fnarf answered in Trees & Shrubs about 1 year ago | Report
    1 comment by All Day Breakfast…
    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Finn3goof_small
    Reputation: 1811
    Follow 4

    Pine needles will take ages to decompose on their own and will also make the soil acidic. Does neighbor have a plug in blower you can use? They are useful for this sort of thing.

    Tom answered in Trees & Shrubs about 1 year ago | Report
    Comment on this answer
    Share this answer with a friend: