What is pine straw?
• The naturally shed needles of pine trees are known as Pine Straw. • It is an excellent landscape mulching material. • Pine Straw is a multi-million dollar industry. • In the Southeastern U.S, pine straw is the #1 mulching material used in landscape plantings. • Many sites in Missouri are suitable for Pine Straw Production. Why use Pine Straw? • Because pine trees shed some needles every year Pine Straw production is sustainable year in and year out. • Pine Straw is actually a leaf (needle), and thus benefits the landscape in much the same way as decomposing leaves benefit the forest floor by recycling nutrients and maintaining soil organic matter. Pine straw is effectively used as mulch in this urban landscape setting. • Hardwood bark mulch can cause a buildup of calcium and potassium in the soil increasing pH and causing an imbalance in soil minerals that can interfere with nutrient uptake. The minerals in pine needles are balanced and therefore, their decomposition does not create
