Pine straw for browns...

Hawgwild 3/19/2022, 8:55 pm

I'm very hesitant to use all pine straw to use as browns as compost. I got a ton of the stuff on my property. It's long leaf pine. No doubt it will be very acidic and take much longer to break down, but wondering if anyone else has tried to use the stuff.

I got enough regular leaves shredded and bagged to last me into May. Mostly oak leaves. Just not sure what to use when I run out of that..

Your thoughts on pine needles for compost?

Anyway am very happy with what I got going now. Turned one of my compost over and decided to take out some of the near finished compost on the bottom. Took three 5 gallon HD buckets from the bottom of the pile and reloaded....Really thrilled with that.

Picture doesn't really show how dark and rich it really is.
Scottie

OhioGardener 3/19/2022, 9:37 pm

Yes, pine needles can be composted. No, pine needles will not turn the compost or soil acidic. Caveat: Pine needles will become matted and repel water if they are applied too thickly.

When I lived in Georgia, i used a lot of pine straw for mulch and composting. If they are blended in while being applied to the compost bin, they will compost very well. But, if applied in a layer several inches thick on the compost bin they will just mat and repel water.

Hawgwild 3/19/2022, 10:15 pm

Thanks Ohio...I got a couple bags of cow compost that really wasn't composted all the way. Still got a good bit of bark and such that I can use to blend in the needles.

Really appreciate the tip about the matting...Now I got enough browns as in pine needles to last to next century... Shocked

Thanks,
Scottie

**sanderson** 10/25/2022, 3:38 pm

Pine straw mulch at one of our hotels in South Carolina. Shocked

I've learned in recent months that dry pine needles do not change the pH and they can be used as mulch and as browns in composting. Just like leaves, they can mat in compost if too thick, so the layers should be thin or mixed in.

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