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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Pine needle mulch in orchard

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  • From: "Eddie Earles" <jas39a@att.net>
  • To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Pine needle mulch in orchard
  • Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 16:12:02 -0400

I would strongly advise against using pine needles as mulch in the South or
Mid-Atlantic areas. Voles love a thick layer of pine needles.

Eddie Earles

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Fruth" <jimfruth@charter.net>
To: "NAFEX" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 11:25 AM
Subject: [NAFEX] Pine needle mulch in orchard


> Betsy Hilborn asked, "Anything special about the pine needle mulch?"
>
>
> Orchards that have grass or weeds around the trees have a potential
> problem. When it rains, the vegetation gets the water first and the trees
> get whatever is extra. If it only rains a slight amount, the trees may
not
> get any. In years where rainfall is scarce, the trees experience major
> stress.
> I use pine needle mulch because of one special quality needles have.
> Conifer needles tend to be hydrophobic. When it rains, only the uppermost
> layer gets wet and the rest of the water passes through the bulk of the
> needles without the needles getting wet. With one exception, all other
> mulched, that I have tried get thoroughly soaked before any moisture gets
> down to the soil. Pine needles take longer to degrade than most other
> mulches so I don't need to add more every year. In order to keep annual
> weeds from growing, 3" to 4" is required.
> The above-mentioned exception is the chips left over from shredding
> raspberry canes. This mulch doesn't work quite as well as pine needle
mulch
> but it does do the job.
>
> Jim Fruth
> Brambleberry Farm
> Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
> For jams, jellies, syrups and more:
> www.jellygal.com
> 1-877-265-6856 (Toll Free)
> 1-218-831-7018 (My Cell)
>
>
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