There are many good reasons to use pine straw mulch. Often the main goal is to prevent weed growth and to enhance the beauty of your landscape.
1. A quality long leaf pine straw has a beautiful auburn appearance when first installed bringing vibrant beauty to your garden. The rich, deep color can provide a nice contrast to predominantly green landscapes and soften rough landscapes and structures.
2. When applied correctly, pine straw prevents evaporation of water from the soil. Weed and grass problems are fewer when the straw is applied deep enough to smother unwanted plants and prevent undesirable seed germination. Because pine needles interlock, it keeps wind and rain from washing or blowing away the topsoil. Mulching with pine straw also helps to prevent soil compaction and erosion.
3. Lastly, pine straw also protects plants from freezing conditions, helping keep the soil around the plants at a stable temperature. Plus, pine straw will improve the soil structure as it decays.
Applying pine straw is recommended annually; however, to keep your garden always looking fresh, twice annually may be needed especially if the application is in full sun.
At Butler Landscapes we install Slash Pine Straw. Slash has good color and lasts longer than other short needle types.
