Are Pine Needles Good for a New Lawn?

Recommendation

• The seeds in a newly planted lawn are prone to getting washed away in rain and getting eaten by birds. In "Gardener to Gardener" (2002), Fern Marshall Bradley recommends using pine needles on a new lawn to prevent this from happening.

Use

• When using pine needles on new lawn, sprinkle just enough to create a very thin layer over newly seeded areas, which will prevent seeds from getting washed away. Avoid creating a thick layer, as this will obstruct sunlight from reaching the seedlings. A thick layer is also likely to turn into a hard crust and will cause more damage than good.

Caution

• Though pine needles are good for new lawns, avoid their use in established grass. According to Lane L. Winward in "The Healthy Lawn Handbook" (2001), pine needles contain a resinlike substance that retards the growth of grasses. This substance is also contained in the roots of pine trees. This makes it hard to grow grass under pine trees.