In some areas of the country, the choice between mulching with pine needles and wood mulch is a tough one. Since the 1980s, pine straw has been the favorite mulch in the South. It is inexpensive, ...

At this time of year, when pine trees are shedding their old needles, my neighbors Mark and Olga are happy to have me rake up the needles that fall from their trees onto the street and their driveway, ...

I have access to a large quantity of pine needles and some pinecones. Can I use these for mulch in my flowerbeds? Pine needles do make good mulch in certain situations, but they are also acidic so ...

Before stowing your gardening gloves, discover how mulching in fall can benefit the soil and help plants better handle winter ...

What to do this week: Finish planting, especially any bulbs you have purchased. If you are randomly naturalizing daffodils, you can place them around the bottom of holes where you are planting ...

Over the years, I’ve had many questions from readers about using pine straw as a mulch in the vegetable garden. Is it a good idea? Let’s cover some of the basics. Mulching is a long-established ...

QUESTION: I have a maple tree in my backyard. My gardener cut the grass growing around it too low, and the grass died. Can I put pine needles around the tree to make the area more attractive? Some of ...

Answer: The best time to move these plants is late in their dormant season. If you were to move them directly to their new location, January would be a good time for you. In other parts of the state, ...

Q: We have 14-year-old pine trees with large water berms under them for collecting water. The inside of these berms are full of pine needles that I hoped would help hold moisture but they do not ...

A. Does pine straw make a good mulch to use with tomato plants in a raised bed? — R. Jeffers, Virginia Beach Q. Like any mulch, pine straw has pros and cons. Among the pros: It’s lightweight and ...