Can I Use Pine Cones and Needles in My Desert Landscape?

Q. 1 am wondering if you have any idea about pine cones and/or pine needles: could either be used in the garden/yard/ and/or in landscaping. We have rocks in the yard with huge pine trees. There is no end to the falling pine cones and the needles. We usually dump them out in the garbage. Is there any use for them? Could the cones and/or needles be used as ground cover around the tree trunks? Thank you in advance for your kind reply.

A. We use of lots of chipped pine trees in our orchard and your landscape plantings. For our desert soils, do not be concerned with postings that the needles are too acidic or cause other problems. We have never found this to be the case with our desert soils. Pine trees are used quite often in desert landscapes particularly surrounding golf courses. If the soil is wet enough, they will decompose and be a nice addition to our alkaline desert soils.

Regarding pine cones, we have never taken the time to shred or chip pine cones that come in with our mulch at the Orchard. They do look a bit funny when you see pine cones in the orchard surrounded by peach trees. Many people who are visiting the orchard asked where the pine cones come from since they are surrounded by peach trees. We explain to them that they come in with our wood mulch from local tree services but we do nothing on purpose to decompose them.

I cannot answer what the effect of these pine needles might have on already acidic soils but my guess would be not much if they are combined with other wood chips. There is some anecdotal information warning about extreme acidity with the use of pine needles as a mulch but I would not be afraid at all to use pine needles and pine cones mixed with your mulch. If you can shred the cones, they could be added to a compost pile.