Pine straw mulch, the dried byproduct of fallen pine needles, is a popular mulch because it is lightweight yet remains stable and cohesive. Mulch is an indispensable part of landscaping and gardening.

If you’ve ever raked up a pile of fallen pine needles, you’ve probably wondered: “Can I just… use these?” Spoiler alert: you ...

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, ...

Mulch has many benefits in the garden, like retaining soil moisture, insulating roots, and deterring weeds. Spreading a layer of mulch also makes your landscape look tidier. But there are so many ...

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 ...

Right under our collective noses - and probably in your very own yard - is a great gardening tool that we have typically shunned. Pine straw. Raked up often to be disposed of, this all-natural, ...

Garden columnist Dan Gill answers readers' questions each week. To send a question, email Gill at [email protected]. I took some elephant ears and banana plants from Thibodaux and planted them at ...

Love it or hate it, pine straw is everywhere if you live in the Southeast. The needles slowly drift down from loblollies and longleaf pines, blanketing lawns and driveways and piling on top of shrubs ...

Q: I have used wood chips from tree cutting services for some time under oaks and places grass will not grow with great success. I’m now wondering if I can use them in the flowerbeds versus using pine ...

RALEIGH Three years ago, 32 townhomes in Pine Knolls Townes were destroyed by a raging fire. That ignited the local pine straw debate. That year, Chapel Hill imposed the first local rules on pine ...