9 Health Reasons To Explore The Benefits Of Pine Needles
- 1. Cleanse Your Skin You may be thinking that you already cleanse your skin with some form of pine scented hand soap. ...
- 2. Help Your Allergies ...
- 3. Boost Your Mood ...
- 4. Natural Air We Breathe ...
- 5. Fight Illness-Causing Free Radicals ...
- 6. Replace Your Cough Syrup ...
- 7. Take Care Of Sore Muscles ...
- 8. Ease Digestion ...
What is the best way to pick up pine needles?
To use a lawn vacuum to gather pine needles, follow these steps:
- Collect all pine needles into a mound with a leaf blower or rake. ...
- Vacuum the pine needles off of the lawn with a lawn vacuum. ...
- You can toss the bag in the compost pile or the yard waste bin. ...
- Depending on its size, you will need to make a few trips with the lawn vacuum. ...
What can you do with pine needles?
What can I do with dried 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.
What pine has the sharpest needles?
Virginia pine has short needles that are quite sharp The Virginia pine is a medium-sized species of pine tree with short pine needles and large seed cones. During the summer, the needle foliage is deep green and this turns yellow-gold in winter.
How to get rid of pine needles [4 efficient methods]?
Pine Needle Removal Steps
- Specialized Rake. A regular rake is not the best choice when thinking of how to get rid of pine needles on grass. ...
- Lawn Sweeper. A lawn sweeper is the simplest tool to use to remove pine needles from your yard. ...
- Leaf Blower. If you want to use a power tool to clear your yard, a leaf blower is an excellent choice. ...
- Lawn Vacuum. ...
- Power Washing. ...
- Duct Tape. ...
See more
What do you do with fallen pine needles?
8 Brilliant Uses for Fallen Pine NeedlesCREATE 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.
What are the benefits of pine needles?
It can be used as an expectorant for coughs and to help relieve chest congestion; it is also good for sore throats. It brings you clarity and mental clearness. It can help with depression, obesity, allergies and high blood pressure. Pine needles contain antioxidants.
What plants benefit from pine needles?
Pansies, zinnias, snapdragons, dahlias and marigolds respond well when mulched with pine needles, especially since pine straw is light enough for young annual plants or bulbs to push through as they grow toward the sun.
Is it OK to eat pine needles?
All pine needles are edible, though you may find that you like the flavor of some pines over others. Just be sure the tree hasn't been sprayed with any pesticides or herbicides. Also, younger needles tend to have a milder flavor that works better for cooking.
Can you drink pine needle tea everyday?
You can drink pine needle tea every day but you should avoid drinking too much. It is recommended to only try about half a cup for the first time. If you are sure that your body has been used to it and you feel no side effects, you can consume it once or twice a day.
How much pine needle tea should you drink?
Drinking a cup or two of pine needle tea per day will help fuel your body with antioxidants, which are highly important for the functioning of your body and blood. Pine needles possesses a slew of antioxidants, in the form of vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as a host of flavonoids.
Why do people put pine needles in flower beds?
Pine needles, also known as pine straw, make fine mulch for some flower beds. 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.
Is it better to rake pine needles or leave them?
The best practice to a healthy mulch and duff layer is to use a leaf rake to remove only the newly fallen needles each year, leaving the decomposing needles below to be compressed by the snow pack each winter.
Should you remove pine needles from under tree?
Pine needles break down slowly and can be used as a mulch but also to line paths and don't need replacing as often as other organic amendments. Leave some of the needles as a bed around the tree roots to help nourish the trees and prevent moisture loss and excessive weeds.
Can you boil pine needles and drink it?
Pour two cups of boiling water over the needles, cover the pot, and allow to steep for a few minutes. The tea will turn a pale green with a light, piney smell. Most of the needles with sink to the bottom and you can pour the tea in to a mug. It's delicious.
Do pine needles have medicinal properties?
Pine needles contain a compound called alpha- or beta-pinene, which is a natural decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anxiolytic. When ingested, pine can be used to treat colds and coughs, reducing phlegm and helping with sinus infections.
Can you eat pine needles in tea?
Which Pine Needles are safe for tea? The Eastern White Pine makes a great tea, but any variety of pine, spruce, or hemlock tree can be used. Avoid using needles from any Cypress or Yew tree as they can be toxic.
Do pine needles have medicinal properties?
Pine needles contain a compound called alpha- or beta-pinene, which is a natural decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anxiolytic. When ingested, pine can be used to treat colds and coughs, reducing phlegm and helping with sinus infections.
What kind of pine needles are medicinal?
Ponderosa usually has three needles per bunch, sometimes two. Pine tree species, such as Ponderosa, Lodgepole, Jeffery, Western and Eastern White, and Sugar Pine, have all long been used medicinally.
What are the pros and cons of pine?
Pros: Pine is low-cost, and it takes paint well, so it's great for kids' furniture. (The same holds true for birch and poplar.) Pine develops a nice, rustic patina from age and use, and it resists shrinking and swelling. Cons: Pine is a softwood, so it's prone to scratches and dents.
Why is pine needle tea good for muscles?
Sore muscles are often caused by inflammation or minor injury. Injured muscles need proper blood flow to help the healing process begin. Thankfully, pine needle tea is useful in increasing the body's circulation, in turn helping oxygen reach all of your body parts and internal systems.
How to help an upset stomach?
There are many home remedies to aid your digestion or help with any minor intestinal discomfort. Dr. Axe agrees that consuming a few pine oil drops when you have an upset stomach can help your body take care of any upset stomach causing waste or toxins.
Why do pine trees make you feel fresh?
While walking through the pine forest in the hope of boosting your mood, you may notice how fresh the air is, perhaps because you're outdoors in the wilderness, far from the toxins and smog of life in the city, but also because of the pine trees themselves. There's plenty of scientific evidence as to what different types of plants do to the atmosphere.
Which essential oils have antiviral properties?
Pine, sandalwood, lavender and chamomile are some of the essential oils which have high antiviral properties due to the excess production of compounds that fight infection. Your immune system can use these added fighters especially if you are ill.
Do anti-oxidants help with aging?
Anti-oxidants not only fight free radicals that cause illnesses, but they also fight the free radicals that cause aging! Along with wrinkles and other physical signs of aging, the brain can also be affected by age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Does pine oil help with stress?
Do you find yourself feeling fatigued, losing focus easily, or feeling over-stressed? If so, pine essential oil may come in handy for you. Pine has a way of energizing you while calming your stress at the same time.
Can you use pine essential oil for allergies?
It may seem counterintuitive to treat outdoor or seasonal allergies with something found outdoors during allergy season, but don't write this remedy off just yet. Using essential oils like pine in a vaporizer while you are indoors during allergy season can really help with those pesky blocked sinuses caused by hay fever.
How to get rid of pine smell in kitchen?
Boil fresh pine needles (and a few pine twigs) in a small saucepan filled with water to neutralize funky food smells in your kitchen.
How to make pine needles into vinegar?
Put one 1/3 cup of pine needles into a jelly jar and top up with vinegar. I think white balsamic vinegar would pair exceptionally well with pine. Screw the lid on and give it a good shake. Let the pine needles meld with the vinegar for about three weeks. Strain into a clean jar to remove the needles.
What is the best cookie to serve with hot tea?
Shortbread is easily my favorite cookie. You’ve got to love a classic that only requires four ingredients to create a mouth-watering treat. Pine needle shortbread cookies pair well with a cup of hot tea. I’ve always used the Scotch Shortbread recipe from my mom’s old Fannie Farmer cookbook, which you can find here.
Why put pine needles in your garden?
After you have your garden planted, put down a layer of pine needles in each row to help keep weeds down, and to prevent erosion. Pine needles can also be used to line paths around your home, giving your landscape a rustic look and feel to it. 22. Bedding for Chickens.
How long is pine needle oil good for?
Add a splash of your pine needle oil to sautéed mushrooms, drizzle over baked fish, or top a peppery arugula salad. This should be good for approximately two months. But who are we kidding, you’ll run out long before then. Pine Needle Uses For Health and Beauty.
How long to boil pine needles?
Add the pine needles to a pre-warmed teapot. Pour in a cup of boiling water and steep for five minutes. Or bring water and pine needles to a rolling boil in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat, cover, and steep for five minutes. Strain and enjoy.
What are the ingredients in fire starters?
Make firestarters with only two ingredients – paraffin wax and pine needles.
What are the benefits of pine straw?
Needles are lightweight. Not only are they easy on gardeners’ backs, they don’t compact soils. Pine needles rarely bring weed seed with them. Also, they block sunlight from reaching the seeds that are already in the soil, preventing them from germinating.
How to make pine straw fluffy?
Shake and toss pine straw the way you would regular straw, so it forms a fluffy layer.
What is pine straw?
Pine straw is the name given to pine needles when they are used as top dressing mulch.
How many inches of pine needles should I use for a turtle shell?
So, more than a 4” inch layer of needles creates an interlocking turtle shell effect that sheds water away from your plants. A 2-4 ” inch layer is ideal. No matter their drawbacks, I collect and use pine needles for my gardens.
How to use pine straw for garden beds?
Just remember that a 2” layer settles down to a layer of about 1” inch. My experience recommends putting down a 4” layer of needles. Shake and toss pine straw the way you would regular straw, so it forms a fluffy layer.
Why do pine trees need needles?
This will ensure that your trees remain moist, while reducing native weeds and infestations of bark beetles. Pine trees need some needles at their bases to protect their health. Give the rest away to friends and fellow gardeners in the neighborhood.
What happens if you don't cover pine straw?
If it does not cover the soil fully, you still will have some weeds, and weeding in pine straw is not particularly pleasant. It may look light and fluffy, but those needles are sharp!
What Is Pine Needle Mulch?
Pine straw is an organic mulch made from fallen pine needles , explains Mary Jane Duford, founder of the beginner gardening blog Home for the Harvest. Like any garden mulch, pine needles create a protective layer that insulates plants, keeps the ground moist, enriches the soil and blocks weed growth.
What is the best mulch for a yard?
If you’ve had trouble keeping mulch somewhere before, Duford recommends trying pine straw. “Pine needle mulch is especially effective in areas where other mulches tend to slip, as the long needles nest together and interlock to create a mat,” he says. It’s like the springy floor in a pine forest.
What to do with long needle pine trees?
If you have long-needled pine trees, just collect some of the fallen needles. Neighbors with long-needled pine trees often are willing to share.
What is the pH of a needle?
According to Amy Jo Detweiler with the Oregon State University Extension Service, “Pine needles have a pH of 3.2 to 3.8 (neutral is 7.0) when they drop from a tree. If you were to take the freshly fallen needles (before the needles decompose) and turn them into the soil right away, you may see a slight drop in the soil pH, but the change would not be damaging to the plants.”
Does pine straw help plants?
Since it breaks down and adds nutrients to the soil, pine straw can also help plants that need a boost. “As an arborist, I use pine needle mulch to help sick trees ,” Stout says. “Often the soil has lost its nutritional value.” It may take some time before you see a difference.
Is pine straw mulch good for the yard?
While mulch does serve a purpose in the yard, its aesthetic value can’t be ignored. That’s why so many wood mulches come dyed red or brown. Some people like the fluffy, natural appearance of pine straw better than other mulches. If the wild look isn’t your style, a dyed wood mulch might be better.
Can you compost pine straw?
If you do decide to remove your old mulch, pine straw is much easier to rake up than wood or stone mulch. You can also compost pine straw. It’s easier to compost if you cut it with garden scissors or a mulcher before adding it to the pile.
What is pine needle mulch?
Pine needles, also known as pine straw, make fine mulch for some flower beds. 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.
How to get rid of needles in my lawn?
Use a Layer of Compost. If you do have plants that don’t like acid soil, apply a thin layer of compost before you put down the needles. Compost helps buffer the needles’ acidity. That same trick also helps lawns thrive under needle-dropping trees.
Do pine needles make soil acidic?
The biggest knock against pine needles is that they will lower the pH of the soil, making it too acid for plants to grow. That concern is largely misplaced, however. While the needles are acidic—they have a pH of around 3.5—they become more neutral as they break down.
Do pine needles affect soil pH?
You’d have to actively work the needles into the soil for them to have any real effect on its pH. Besides, with all those pine trees on your property, your soils are sure to be on the acid side already.
Can pine needles be blown around?
Also, pine needles are easily blown around. If you apply them in an exposed area, you’ll probably have to rake them back into the garden after big wind storms.
How to make mulch from pine needles?
To make your own garden mulch from pine needles, rake up the needles into piles, and then run them through a shredder if you have one . Otherwise, composting the needles in a pile will help break them down a bit . Then once they’re spread out under the plants, they’ll pack into a solid yet breathable mat.
Why do pine trees hush?
The odd hush under really old pine trees is created by the pine needle mulch deadening all sound. Digging down into the duff illustrates how this happens. Generally, a fungus starts to form, with many pale coloured hyphae, or roots.
What plants like pine needle mulch?
Other plants that like a pine needle mulch are Rhododendrons, blueberries and Arctostaphylos. Oddly enough, these are all what is called ‘ericaceous’ plants – those that have fine hair like roots, urn shaped flowers and absolutely need low pH soil to survive.
Why mulch in landscaping?
Landscaping with mulch gives you the opportunity to salvage and re-use otherwise wasted materials such as what the trees drop. Utilize these free mulching materials whenever you can to provide all the mulch benefits such as moisture retention, weed control and beauty in your garden.
Is pine needle mulch slippery?
The only drawbacks to using pine needle mulch are that it’s precariously slippery when dry , and also a fire hazard if you garden in a wildfire danger zone. Use a different type of mulch if you’re fire smart gardening.
Are Pine Needles Bad For Chickens? The Real Truth
Over the last decade, there has been a huge rise in backyard chicken farming, partially driven by the zoning changes of urban and suburban areas. So, for the everyday backyard farmer picking up the lifestyle it’s vitally important to get the right information so we can all take better care of our chickens.
Are Pine Needles Bad For Chickens?
Just to clarify, pine needles are what comes off the end of the pine tree branches, pine shavings are shaved wood from the trunk of the tree.
Are Pine Shavings Bad For Chickens?
Pine shavings have been widely used in a commercial poultry setting, as they are cheap, insulating, and absorbent. But, commercial chickens are often just used for their meat (broiler) or for egg farming, and often don’t have long enough lives to see the impact of this bedding.
Other Safe Bedding Alternatives
Although pine needles make for great bedding for chickens or even chicks, if you don’t have a pine tree close by you might not be able to source pine needles all year round. Here are the other beddings that are completely safe and commonly used for backyard chicken coops.
Conclusion
Unlike pine shavings, pine needles are a completely safe material to use for chicken bedding, and in and around the run.
