Pine straw is the naturally shed leaves ("needles") of pine trees.

Pine straw mulch is using pine straw or pine needles as a mulch.

Broadly speaking, mulch is any organic or inorganic substance laid on top of your garden soil to benefit your garden in some way. More specifically, mulch is a very important tool in the garden and landscape that:

• helps prevent loss of topsoil from wind and water erosion
• reduces water usage by maintaining soil moisture
• reduces rainwater runoff
• reduces soil compaction
• lessens soil temperature fluctuations
• improves soil tilth
• makes landscape more attractive
• reduces maintenance
• reduces weed growth
• insulates soil to keep plants cooler in summer and warmer in winter
• improves soil aeration, structure, and drainage over time
• improves soil fertility
• inhibits certain plant diseases
• reduces damage from trimmers and lawn mowers
•  

Probably not. All of the shipping companies now charge based on the size of a package shipped by them as well as the weight of it. Although pine straw is not really heavy, it is bulky. Pine straw bales are usually compressed for shipping, but depending on the size of the bale and shipping box, companies are charged up to a 50 pound flat rate shipping charge due to the size of the shipping boxes. You should compare shipping charges, as some shippers may be located closer to you and will charge less in shipping. However, you will find that even with the shipping charges what they are, pine straw can sometimes be shipped right to your door or job site at prices that are very competitive with other premium mulches.

If you have pine straw available in your area, it is usually less expensive to buy it locally. Pine straw is not available in all areas of the country though, and must be shipped to some customers. However, bales also come in all different sizes, shapes, and weights, so you should compare the amount a bale will cover, the cost per square foot of coverage, the value of your time, vehicle fuel costs, and the amount of labor that it will take to pick up, load, and unload the bales when determining what is your best value.

2.5 to 3 inches is good, but some people like it 5 to 6 inches deep. As a rule, the deeper it is, the better it will hold moisture and suppress weeds. 6 inches is probably the deepest you show lay it though. Don't place it right against plants or trees. Leave a small circle around the base of plants and trees to allow some air circulation and reduce pathways for pests..

Bales come in different sizes and shapes and thus, contain different amounts of straw. A bale usually will cover somewhere from about 30 square feet to about 120 square feet at 2.5 to 3 inches deep. You should always ask so you know how much straw you are supposed to be getting and at what cost per square foot of coverage.

As a guideline, large round bales are about 18 inches in diameter, about 28 inches tall, and weigh about 40 pounds, and square bales are about 13 inches tall, about 14 inches wide, about 28 inches long, and weigh about 12 pounds. There are bales in other sizes and weights as well. Bales are usually compressed by machine or hand and will vary in size and amount of straw. Machine compressed bales usually contain more straw per bale compared to the same size bale that was hand baled.  You should always ask so you know how much straw you are supposed to be getting and at what cost per square foot of coverage. 

Simply grab handfuls of the pinestraw and shake and scatter it loosely to achieve the recommended coverage. If spread correctly, the pine straw should be very loose and fluffy. You want it to fall from your hands and lay just like it would fall naturally from the trees. Once it is watered in either by sprinklers, hose or naturally by rain, it will form a nice even mat like it occurs naturally.

Pine straw breaks down very slowly, and like other mulches, it will need to be refreshed occasionally, both for depth and for fresh color. When you need to refresh it, you will need much less than when applying for the first time. Once or twice a year, take a small amount and lightly sprinkle a thin layer on top of your older pine straw, or on top of any other mulch you currently have.  

If you are not already familiar with pine straw mulch, it has been used extensively in gardening and landscaping along the southern Gulf Coast and East Coast for as long as 25 years. It is very lightweight and covers a larger area and is easier to spread than most mulches. To spread it, take the bale to the area you wish to cover, cut the twine, and grab handfuls of the pine straw and shake it into a nice fluffy layer. Once you water it in (or it rains), it will settle to a nice even mat of intertwined needles that won't float or wash away easily. It is the best mulch for erosion control. As you know, many homes that do not have rain gutters have the landscaping around them torn up after every rain. Rain easily infiltrates pine straw and evenly disperses the water, without floating out of the flower beds. Pine straw breathes better and doesn't compact like some other mulches. It does not attract termites. It's natural, organic, and sustainably produced, and like other mulches, it adds organic material and nutrients to the soil, reduces weeds, and saves water. Best of all, due to its light weight and ease of application, it will save you and your company both time and money, all at a competitive price. If it isn't available locally, some companies will ship it straight to your customer's door so your mulch is ready and waiting when your crew arrives.

Yes. It is cost effective and works great for :

• environmental remediation

• environmental restoration 

• erosion control / soil stabilization

• storm water pollution prevention plan (SWP3) structural controls

• storm water (SWP3) best management practices (BMP)

• local, city, county, state, and federal government use

• consent decrees

• agreed orders

• supplemental environmental projects (SEP)

• environmentally beneficial uses

• new installations

• landscaping

• new construction or modifications

• large or small projects

Here are some photos from some large projects: