Pine Needles as Summer Mulch for cold hardy palms

[newtopalmsMD]

Every winter I use a mix of pine needles and oak leaves as mulch to protect roots.  As I raked the thick layer of pine needles to prepare for the expensive layer of hardwood mulch it occurred to me to just leave the pine needle layer and not use hard wood mulch.  I quick google search said line needles could make the soil some more acidic.  But Sabal minor, needles, and windmill palms all like slightly acidic soil.  Has anyone used pine needles as mulch year round for these palms, and are there any drawbacks (other than maybe not liking the aesthetic of pine needles vs hardwood?

Thanks

[PAPalmtrees]

Here in Southern Pennsylvania I have used pine needle mulch from my pine trees for my sables and needles haven't noticed a difference But that's just my experience

[SeanK]

So long as you don't have poisonous snakes. They like a nice covering of pine needles to hide in 

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

10 hours ago, newtopalmsMD said:

Every winter I use a mix of pine needles and oak leaves as mulch to protect roots.  As I raked the thick layer of pine needles to prepare for the expensive layer of hardwood mulch it occurred to me to just leave the pine needle layer and not use hard wood mulch.  I quick google search said line needles could make the soil some more acidic.  But Sabal minor, needles, and windmill palms all like slightly acidic soil.  Has anyone used pine needles as mulch year round for these palms, and are there any drawbacks (other than maybe not liking the aesthetic of pine needles vs hardwood?

Thanks

Lots of people do it down here. Most retailers sell pine straw bales that can be used for mulch. I can't speak specifically about the effects on palms or the snakes but it is used fairly common as mulch. 

[Swolte]

Pine needles fulfil some mulch function, however, the idea that they acidify the soil is mostly a myth. As a mulch, it has drawbacks in the sense that they don't really break down easily. Now, if your goal with mulch is to have a material that will remain as a cover and, perhaps in large quantities, suppress weed and do some temperature regulations - it is fine. However, I personally prefer mulches that also feed and contribute to building the soil (e.g., like hardwood). 

[PAPalmtrees]

3 hours ago, Swolte said:

Pine needles fulfil some mulch function, however, the idea that they acidify the soil is mostly a myth. As a mulch, it has drawbacks in the sense that they don't really break down easily. Now, if your goal with mulch is to have a material that will remain as a cover and, perhaps in large quantities, suppress weed and do some temperature regulations - it is fine. However, I personally prefer mulches that also feed and contribute to building the soil (e.g., like hardwood). 

Yeah I have used pine needle mulch before it has never affected any of my plants

[Toddmin]

On 4/26/2025 at 10:01 AM, newtopalmsMD said:

Every winter I use a mix of pine needles and oak leaves as mulch to protect roots.  As I raked the thick layer of pine needles to prepare for the expensive layer of hardwood mulch it occurred to me to just leave the pine needle layer and not use hard wood mulch.  I quick google search said line needles could make the soil some more acidic.  But Sabal minor, needles, and windmill palms all like slightly acidic soil.  Has anyone used pine needles as mulch year round for these palms, and are there any drawbacks (other than maybe not liking the aesthetic of pine needles vs hardwood?

Thanks

I use pine needles as mulch in my yard.  My plants do very well with it, including all my palms.

We have 3.5 acres with a pond.  Snakes have never been an issue with the pine needles.  We do see snakes but never around the pine needle mulch. 

[ZPalms]

I use pine needles, no differences in health of plants or palms, that being said if I could do wood mulch I rather have that but pine needles are free!

[Las Palmas Norte]

The only thing I can say about these types of mulch is avoid using them in situations that could pose a fire risk. I've seen discarded cigarettes ignite mulch in areas within public access. Frontage lots or high public traffic areas could possibly be compromised.

[Silas_Sancona]

As others have mentioned, Pine needle mulch / duff / debris ...whatever you want to call it...  is very popular in certain areas.  Remember selling out of it all the time in FL..

As for what it contributes ..or doesn't..  Great stuff that will break down readily,  Pine needles will linger longer than Oak leaves / leaves from other non -conifer trees though.. Regardless,  they definitely help build up the organic layer in the soil..

Regarding the acidity leaves / Pine needles might add to the soil,  If you look at where certain plants that like low pH soils back east prefer to grow, ..it is often near / under conifers  ..Think Azaleas, various Orchids, many ferns, etc..   ....Not your " common " plants..

That said, degree that pine needles will lower the soil's average pH isn't by much ..at one time at least.  Over a longer period? ..pH average might trend a bit lower below / near a grove of Pines / other conifers that are constantly shedding debris / constantly building a deep layer of it on the native soil...

IM, prefer leaf / duff mulch over the hardwood stuff..  Looks better / breaks down easier ..and doesn't provide a all you can eat buffet for termites..

Here in the desert, hardwood mulch just looks stupid. Takes forever to break down, and will often wash out during our summer storms too.  Use debris shed from trees like Mesquite / Palo Verde and our native Ironwood ...and whatever else is shed by stuff in the yards.. 

Extra benefit using the debris shed by the 3 trees i mentioned?  all release nitrogen locked up in the leaves as they start to decompose.


As for snakes / other critters hiding in Pine needles..  If there's somewhere to hide / something laying on the ground that provides shelter, any critter will take advantage of that opportunity.. Numerous bees / other pollinators actually rely on leaf debris for places to nest.  Things that eat ground nesting bees / other bugs living in the mulch will follow.



Another thing, when referencing 98% of our native snakes, venomous would be the correct term  ..." Poisonous " refers to any creature that produces a toxin which has to be consumed before it is released.  Various plants, Toads / Frogs can be considered poisonous.  AFAIA, only certain Garter Snakes in the Western US that eat a certain sp. of Newt can be considered poisonous.. 

US native Vipers / Coral Snakes? = venomous,  all of 'em. 

 

[RJ]

On 4/26/2025 at 10:01 AM, newtopalmsMD said:

Every winter I use a mix of pine needles and oak leaves as mulch to protect roots.  As I raked the thick layer of pine needles to prepare for the expensive layer of hardwood mulch it occurred to me to just leave the pine needle layer and not use hard wood mulch.  I quick google search said line needles could make the soil some more acidic.  But Sabal minor, needles, and windmill palms all like slightly acidic soil.  Has anyone used pine needles as mulch year round for these palms, and are there any drawbacks (other than maybe not liking the aesthetic of pine needles vs hardwood?

Thanks

Quick question… and the answer is equally quick . what’s the purpose of mulch? 

[frankcar1965]

I'm surprised someone said they don't add anything, they certainly most do, and last a long time, everything breaks down I believe?  And you want it to actually not break down fast, I'm perplexed.