Pine straw suppliers and retailers usually prefer species with long needles (like longleaf or slash pine). Longer needle length facilitates collection, has slower deterioration rates, and allows needles to lock and stay in place, providing enhanced mulching benefits.
Longleaf pine needles are approximately 8 to 18 inches long and usually occur in clusters of three. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) grows better than other tree species in sandy, well drained soils, but it will grow in almost any soil except prairie soils. Its needles are usually 6 to 11 inches long and occur in clusters of two or three. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is often grown in plantations and accounts for more than half of the pine volume in the South. Needles of the loblolly pine are usually 5 to 9 inches long and occur in clusters of three, sometimes four. Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) is native to coastal areas and often grows in wet areas, such as near swamps.
Questions to ask: What species is growing?Īlabama has three pine species that are common to the state and that produce straw frequently used across the Southeast as landscape mulch. Not all forestland-or even all land forested with pines-is appropriate for pine straw harvesting. Landowners must know certain market or production requirements and understand that their objectives must match what is biologically possible on a site. Note: A consulting forester can help provide answers to many of the site- or treatment-specific questions posed in this publication. What landowners need to know about the pine straw market.What landowners need to know about their objectives and management strategies.What landowners need to know about their property.It also provides a brief overview, in three sections, of issues related to the production and harvesting of pine straw: This publication includes questions landowners should ask themselves to determine if pine straw production is right for them. Pine straw production is often compatible with other land uses, but landowners need to consider several factors before beginning pine straw harvesting on their land. Freshly fallen needles can be raked and sold to retailers, landscapers, and others who use the material as ground cover. Pine straw consists of the needles that fall from pine trees.
Production of nontimber forest products such as pine straw can be a good way for forestland owners to earn an income, especially when traditional timber markets are down.