By John Watkins Updated December 10, 2018
Evergreens, such as pine trees (Pinus spp.), can be valuable additions to your yard. They can provide year-round shade, cooling your house and yard, and can also be grown as screens or wind breaks. Growing a lush lawn around pines and other trees can be difficult, but not impossible. Using proper cultural practices to improve growing conditions for the grass will lead to a healthier lawn.
Growing Grass Around Pine Trees
Turf and trees are a classic combination, but that doesn't mean they always work well together. A healthy lawn requires plenty of sun, enough water and a steady supply of nutrients. When you grow grass and trees together, it creates an environment of constant competition with both plants competing for the same resources. Needle drop from pine trees can also produce a thick mat that forms a physical barrier, either retarding grass growth or killing it entirely.
The pH Myth
It is a common myth that grass will not grow around pine trees because the accumulated needles make the soil so acidic nothing will grow. While pine needles can have a pH ranging between 3.2 and 3.8 when they fall from the tree, they have little effect on plant growth because the roots are not growing in this material. As the needles break down, they are neutralized by the microbes that are doing the decomposing work and will have little effect on the soil pH.
Improving Growing Conditions
Growing a healthy lawn where pine needles fall can be difficult if you don't improve the growing conditions. Pruning back tree limbs will allow more light to reach the grass. Raising mowing heights under trees will improve the turf’s ability to compete with trees for water and nutrients. Avoid shallow watering and fertilize heavily with nitrogen fertilizer to increase a the grass's ability to adapt to the shade. Don't let a thick layer of pine needles build up. Rake up needles regularly to allow more sunlight, air, and water to reach the grass.
Using Pine Needles as Mulch
Because pine needles are slow to decompose, they may accumulate to a point where grass will no longer grow. For this reason, pine needles can make an excellent mulch around trees or shrubs where you don't want grass. Raking pine needles from lawn areas and using it where you want to keep the ground free of grass helps recycle the pine needles and benefits the garden.
FAQs
Pine needles will block air and sunlight, preventing both from reaching the soil and stunting the growth of your grass. In addition, the pine needles will steal moisture from the soil, starving the grass. Acidity in the pine needles themselves can seep into the soil, which kills grass and invites weeds.
Can you mow over pine needles? ›
Additionally, pine needles are acidic and can damage grass if left behind. To keep your lawn looking healthy, it is best to rake pine needles away before mowing or to use a mulching mower to mulch the needles, which will break them up and distribute the nutrients back into the soil.
Will Pinestraw kill grass? ›
Pine needles are slow to decompose compared to deciduous tree leaves, which makes pine straw a long-lasting, neat and attractive landscaping mulch. Those same qualities can kill lawns when fallen pine needles are allowed to accumulate.
Do pine needles kill weeds? ›
Pine Needles as Yard and Garden Mulch
As a mulch, pine needles are slow to decompose—so they last a long time—but they will also enrich the soil when they do eventually decompose. They block the light that is needed for weed seeds to germinate and grow, killing off weed sprouts.
Is it good to leave pine needles on the ground? ›
Pine needles decompose very slowly, so that they don't need replacing as often as other mulches. However, eventually needles will breakdown and enrich garden soil. They moderate soil temperature in summer and prevent winter soils from freezing and heaving roots from the ground.
Should I rake pine needles or leave them? ›
Pine and fir needles should be raked off hard surfaces such as pavement, decks, rooftops, gutters, and gravel-covered surfaces, and removed from the soil within 30 feet of all structures. Fallen branches and pine cones should be picked up throughout the property.
Should I mulch pine needles into my lawn? ›
Pine Needles Can Work as Mulch
They are light and fluffy, so spreading them around is a piece of cake, and they don't compact much as they decompose, so you don't have to worry about them becoming too thick or forming a rain-impervious mat. Even better, in your case, they're free for the raking.
Will grass seed grow in pine needles? ›
Highlights. You may find it difficult to grow grass underneath pine trees. Acidic soil, less sun exposure, and falling pine needles make grass hard to grow. Certain shady plants and flowers may be better alternatives for sustainable growth.
What is better for landscaping mulch or pine straw? ›
Pine straw could also work well in areas with plants that appreciate acidity, like azalea bushes. Mulch is a great option for beds in the front of your home that you would like to keep looking fresh, with little maintenance.
What should I do with the pine needles in my yard? ›
8 Brilliant Uses for Fallen Pine Needles
- CREATE FIRE STARTERS. Bundle a handful of dry needles with thread to use along with kindling wood and newspaper. ...
- USE AS MULCH. ...
- MAKE A DISINFECTANT. ...
- FLAVOR VINEGAR. ...
- BREW A FOOTBATH. ...
- COOK WITH THEM. ...
- FRESHEN UP A ROOM. ...
- FILL OUTDOOR PILLOWS.
As we mentioned before, snakes are attracted to pine straws because they offer a good place to hide and an easy food source. The fallen needles create thick layers of mulch that are perfect for snakes to slither through undetected.
What is the downside of pine mulch? ›
Second, be aware that pine bark mulch can be acidic, so it may not be the best choice for plants that prefer a more alkaline soil. And finally, remember that mulch is not a miracle cure for all gardening problems. It's a helpful tool, but it's not a substitute for good soil, proper watering, and regular fertilization.
Why won't my grass grow near pine trees? ›
Why will grass not grow under Pine trees? A lot of people actually have issues growing grass under pine trees because the soil is acidic, there is little sunlight, the competition for water is intense, and pine needles form a heavy mat as they fall which further limits sunlight from getting through to the grass.
Why won't my grass grow around pine trees? ›
Some grass does not thrive in acidic soil.
Pine trees love growing in acidic and well-drained soil, but the type of grass you are planting might not survive in acidic soil. The soil where pine trees grow has a pH level between 4.5 to 6 (still depending on the species), whereas some grass prefers a neutral acid level.
Why does the grass keep dying under my tree? ›
Finally, consider that environmental conditions under your tree may not be conducive to good growth: Cooler temperatures, higher humidity, lack of air movement, incorrect moisture levels, and leaf cover in the fall can all prevent your grass from growing well—or at all.
Can you use fallen pine needles as mulch? ›
These needles are safe to use as mulch around most plants and especially perennial plants in your garden. Because pine needles contain high levels of resins, they repel water and decompose much more slowly than leaves from most deciduous trees. Their shape also helps them avoid becoming moist and composting rapidly.
How long does it take for pine needles to fall off? ›
Typically, white pines will retain needles for three years, but in autumn, 2-or-3-year-old needles will change color and drop, leaving only the current season's growth still attached. Austrian and Scots pines usually retain their needles for three years. Red pine drops its needles in the fourth year.
