My compost has tons of Pine needles?

Question

I am planning on using my compost in a new garden but it is filled with pine neelds.... Will this harm the new flowers I am planning on planting? How can I break them down quicly naturally if need be? Thanks to You!!

Answer 1

Pine needles will NOT hurt using then in your new plantings....

They are however on of the slowest to break down. Never really understood why. I discovered that and kept them to a minimum and just dumped them elswhere...............

Answer 2

Don't worry about it ...they are a good source of slow-decaying organic matter. You don't even have to worry about the acidity.

Just plant your flowers, water them in well, and spread a thick layer of compost on the dirt as a mulch.

The worms and other critters willtakecare of it for you.

Answer 3

Pine needles - too many of them - are hard to compost.

What my husband and I do is rake up all the needles and pine cones as many as we can, in the Spring, and again, in the Fall, and we put them in bags so that we can take them to the City Free Dump for Greenery.    They burn it up.

There are pine needles left, and as long as the wind keeps blowing, there are always seeds and needles.  But I do put SOME into the compost, as long as it is mixed with grass, and with dirt.   A layer of green, and a layer of brown.   The grass that I rake up with the needles mixes, and then I add shredded paper, turn my compost and turn it some more.

I have ONE PILE with just needles and the bigger branches which, when the City gives us the opportunity, we will bag up and take to their Recycle and Landfill for burning.    

Another pile I have is a mixture of dirt, sod, and cones.   I save these cones for the few squirrels that might be needing them.   Also, by having several piles of various mixtures of compost, I can gradually see them decompose, and use them in the yard to better the ground.  Again, too many pine needles will make your ground acid, so you have to watch it and keep a good nitrogen soil going.   It seems to be working, because I have some nice shrubbery growing under the Doug Fir and the Pine Tree in my front yard.   The finches LOVE the pine tree seeds.

Answer 4

They are acidic and break down slowly, try adding clean wood ash (not charcoal brickette ash) or some lime to the compost.  It'll reduce the acidity and spped decomposition.

Answer 5

the pine needles will add a wee dab of acidity to your soil, but so will the compost itself... if your plants are not those who specifically LIKE acidic soil, just add a little lime as you mix it in..... very little is necessary.... as the acid added isn't much either....pine needles is okay in compost as long as they're not the biggest % of the 'stuff' in there....