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Pine straw mulch
Posted on 2/16/26 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 2/16/26 at 12:34 pm
Due to the rising cost of cypress (and other premium) mulch, I went with pine straw in 2025. It held up ok....just fades pretty fast in our climate. It was good enough to continue with it this spring.
Just wondering how y'all handle putting the new stuff down. Some areas are still "full" (the pine straw has not broken down much). Do you generally just add on top or remove the old and add new pine straw? Pine straw is difficult to put down.....just trying to see what other folks do before I tackle this project.
If I bought the bagged pine straw, I could put a thin layer on top to get the color back, but those bags are almost as expensive as cypress. The bagged pine starw is shredded and easier to put down.....just expensive.
Just wondering how y'all handle putting the new stuff down. Some areas are still "full" (the pine straw has not broken down much). Do you generally just add on top or remove the old and add new pine straw? Pine straw is difficult to put down.....just trying to see what other folks do before I tackle this project.
If I bought the bagged pine straw, I could put a thin layer on top to get the color back, but those bags are almost as expensive as cypress. The bagged pine starw is shredded and easier to put down.....just expensive.
9
Posted on 2/16/26 at 1:27 pm to sosaysmorvant
If still thick in some areas grab a rake and fluff it, still good color under there and you can get another few months out of it.
Not sure where you’re coming from with “pine straw is difficult to put down”. I find it way easier than traditional mulch, just shake it out doesn’t have to be perfect. Rain will eventually hit it and settle it in.
Not sure where you’re coming from with “pine straw is difficult to put down”. I find it way easier than traditional mulch, just shake it out doesn’t have to be perfect. Rain will eventually hit it and settle it in.
Posted on 2/16/26 at 1:40 pm to questionable
Bought the bagged straw from Stein Lumber and opened each pack in a wheelbarrow since it was compressed. Fluffed it in the wheelbarrow and laid it on top of the existing mulch that had mostly flattened out/compressed.
I was also under the impression it breaks down slower than traditional mulch. Cypress mulch attracts fewer bugs I believe.
I was also under the impression it breaks down slower than traditional mulch. Cypress mulch attracts fewer bugs I believe.
Posted on 2/16/26 at 2:07 pm to sosaysmorvant
Spread out the older stuff, and add a layer on top to get the desired thickness
Posted on 2/16/26 at 2:31 pm to sosaysmorvant
sort of related: Driving on 28 toward Pineville last month I saw the biggest pile of pine straw I've ever seen raked up. One of those homes on 28 that has tons of beautiful pines. They had just started it on fire. Killed me.
10min down the road I see a fast-food joint getting a fresh mulching with bales of straw.
10min down the road I see a fast-food joint getting a fresh mulching with bales of straw.
Posted on 2/16/26 at 2:49 pm to sosaysmorvant
Perhaps Mulch Color Spray/Dye can be used. About $23 and enough to last several seasons. I've done it with a cheaper ACE Hardware sprayer and had good luck.
Posted on 2/16/26 at 4:36 pm to sosaysmorvant
I get the big rolls from Home Depot or Lowe's once a year. They told me a roll is roughly 2.5 of the baled straw, and the rolls are much easier to put out. Cut the string and unroll it where you want it, fluff it with a rake and you're done. The bales are all compacted and have several of the strings tied around them, and you have to cut them all and break up the chunks. I've never removed any of the old, as it breaks down over time, and I just add new on top.
Posted on 2/16/26 at 5:41 pm to sosaysmorvant
Pine straw installation
Watch this video.Kinda long but he covers everything you need to know. Buy longleaf pinestraw if you can. Apply right over the existing straw. The older stuff breaks down under the newly applied straw. I personally avoid any dyed pinestraw. It’s expensive. Usually Home Depot and Lowe’s aren’t the best places to buy. See if you can find a local supplier. They normally will deliver
Watch this video.Kinda long but he covers everything you need to know. Buy longleaf pinestraw if you can. Apply right over the existing straw. The older stuff breaks down under the newly applied straw. I personally avoid any dyed pinestraw. It’s expensive. Usually Home Depot and Lowe’s aren’t the best places to buy. See if you can find a local supplier. They normally will deliver
Posted on 2/16/26 at 10:49 pm to sosaysmorvant
Buy the bale or roll. Run over it with your lawnmower to shred it. It helps if you have a bagger on the mower.
Posted on 2/16/26 at 10:57 pm to sosaysmorvant
I buy long leaf straw from a company that bales it from large corporate timberland tracts. Pearl River County, MS. $13 for a big roll, which is about 2.5 rectangular bales. Search on Google and see if you can find something similar in your area.
Your other alternative is to find locals who rake it from people's yards or woods and don't have to pay for it.
Your other alternative is to find locals who rake it from people's yards or woods and don't have to pay for it.
Posted on 2/16/26 at 11:08 pm to sosaysmorvant
I never use pine straw for that reason, it's pretty for a while and then it fades and there's nothing you can do about it.
I use pine bark mulch. Not the big nuggets.
Use a garden rake once in the Spring and once in the Fall to mix it up and pull some weeds. Looks like new. And you can add a new thin layer on top to dress it up.
You can rake it as often as you want. Quickly freshen it up for that weekend gathering.
I use pine bark mulch. Not the big nuggets.
Use a garden rake once in the Spring and once in the Fall to mix it up and pull some weeds. Looks like new. And you can add a new thin layer on top to dress it up.
You can rake it as often as you want. Quickly freshen it up for that weekend gathering.
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