re: Pine needles, hay, or cypress mulch?

quote:

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would the acidity hurt the shrubs and what not

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You should look up those plants before piling on the straw, potentially using it for years. Some thrive in acidic soil and others will die.

Take a stroll through a pine forest and you’ll notice the lack of just about anything growing under the pines. Just too much acid. So yes it will keep the weeds down, a lot of other stuff too though if used longer.

Watch for signs of stress in the plants.