Pine Needles, Oak Leaves, and Soil Acidity: What Does the Research Say?

In a late Healthy Garden clause , Paula Gross mention research indicating thatmulchesof oak tree leaves and pine needles do not sour thesoil . In view of the tendencies of woodland in my area to have a pH of 5 to 6 , whereaslawnsand theatre of operations ( admittedly many of which have been limed ) tend to be around 6.8 , I would be interested in the specifics of the inquiry .

— Will Ferrell , Kernersville , North Carolina

Paula Gross responds : In digging deep for this article , I was prompt thatsoil pHis very stable and that it takes a lot to alter it . When we want to change dirt pH in either direction , we twist to inorganic material — limestone to increase pH , and sulphur to lower it — because organic materials simply wo n’t have a strong enough consequence in our life .

I call up it is much more probable that the pH difference of opinion Mr. Ferrell observes is due to the liming of sward , as he suspects . North Carolina ’s Piedmont soils run to run acidic , but of course of action it all look on the exact ground he is testing . pocket of more and less acidic soils sure enough exist .

intemperate research on pine needles and soil pH is lacking , yet all university extension services I research argufy the claim that pine needles acetify soil .

If Mr. Ferrell want to try an experimentation of his own over five to 10 yr with pine needle , I can tell you he ’d have an interested audience online !

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