Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

name         Emily
status       student
age          14

Question -   What effect to the needles from pine trees, on the
grounds around it?
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Dear Emily,

In the undisturbed forest, contributes to the forest floor/organic layer of
the soil.

Used as a mulch in landscaping but contributes to acidification of the soil.

Also please see the following:
http://www.service.com/PAW/morgue/real_estate/1996_Mar_15.GARDEN15.html

Sincerely,

Anthony R. Brach
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Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D., brach@oeb.harvard.edu
http://www.herbaria.harvard.edu/~brach/
Flora of China http://flora.harvard.edu/china/
Harvard University Herbaria, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2094 USA

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Pine needles are acidic, which inhibits growth of some plants; see a basic
ecology/forest ecology book for details.
J. Elliott

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