In some areas of the country, the choice between mulching with pine needles and wood mulch is a tough one. Since the 1980s, pine straw has been the favorite mulch in the South. It is inexpensive, ...

When it comes to covers for your garden soil, pine straw may be right. You'll only know for sure once you've compared it to ...

Starting a vegetable garden can be a rewarding prospect for any homeowner. In addition to having fresh veggies on the ready, digging in the dirt has big health benefits. Though yanking out weeds might ...

A. Does pine straw make a good mulch to use with tomato plants in a raised bed? — R. Jeffers, Virginia Beach Q. Like any mulch, pine straw has pros and cons. Among the pros: It’s lightweight and ...

Wood mulch and wood chips will mat down to make a firm but spongy surface for your garden paths and around playsets. Pine straw is too slippery to walk on, so skip it when mulching these high-traffic ...

Garden columnist Dan Gill answers readers' questions each week. To send a question, email Gill at [email protected]. I took some elephant ears and banana plants from Thibodaux and planted them at ...

Summer has definitely arrived. With temperatures reaching the high 90s and 100s every day, water is quickly lost from soils and plants. Evapotranspiration is the agricultural term for the total amount ...

Gardening is something I enjoy doing and I spend at least half of each day in my garden. It gets me outside, in the fresh air, and exercising. However, pulling weeds is my least favorite garden chore.

If you use mulch in your landscape, chances are it has thinned out over the summer and is in need of refreshing. If you’ve been putting off this chore, consider this: Mulching isn’t just about ...

Q: I have used wood chips from tree cutting services for some time under oaks and places grass will not grow with great success. I’m now wondering if I can use them in the flowerbeds versus using pine ...