Mulching is one of the most important roles in your garden. It protects the soil from erosion via rain or wind and also adds nutrients to improve the health of the foliage.
Pine straw is a natural material that offers a lot of different benefits to your garden. It resembles hay bales and is available in garden centers and greenhouses.
Apart from improving the condition of the soil, pine straws are also easy to apply and maintain. They are quite cheap and control the growth of unwanted plants, like weeds and bushes.
Their uniform color and fine texture add aesthetics to the landscape as well.
USA Pine Straw – Pine Needle Mulch – Premium Long Needle Best Overall
USA Pine Straw Needle Mulch
The premium pine straw by USA Pine Straw leads the pack as the best overall on this list. It is considered one of the top choices for almost all types of gardens and planting beds. It looks great on hillsides and slopes in your landscape.
Since the product is termite-resistant, it is a good option only for foundation plants. Its quality has been A-graded; if you are not satisfied with the quality, you will get your money back.
The pine needles are of great quality and will keep the weeds down. Additionally, they can be carted around as they are packed in bundles.
Area coverage
The 14-inch long needles from a single pallet can cover an area up to 3,200 square feet.
- Looks very natural
- Easy and quick to spread
- Effectively suppresses weed
- Can be used to cover a large area
- Expensive
USA Pine Straw – Premium Pine Needle MulchBest Value for money
USA Pine Straw Premium Pine Needle Mulch
Another entry by USA Pine Straw is the Premium Pine Needle Mulch. It consists of very beautiful and natural colors that will look great on any garden or landscape bed. Apart from adding nutrients to the soil, it also suppresses the growth of weeds.
While the product is a premium 14-inch long needle, the company will send you 9-inch ones upon request.
The long needles interlock with each other and create a decent barrier from the sun. They nest very well and look clean. However, the quantity is quite less.
Area coverage
The pine needle mulch can cover an area of 300-320 square feet, with a depth of 2-3 inches.
- Provides one of the best results
- Best for gardens and landscape beds
- Easy to spread around
- Suppresses the growth of weed
- Comes with free and quick shipping
- The quantity is not justifiable for the pricing
Longleaf Pine Straw Roll for Landscaping – Non-ColoredMost long-lasting
Longleaf Pine Straw Roll for Landscaping
The longleaf pine straws last for a long time and have a deeper color than regular pine rolls. It will effectively beautify your landscape and is a cleaner and natural by-product. Additionally, it does not float in heavy rain. The product is heavy on the pocket, sadly.
The pine needles do not leave behind a lot of debris, unlike other competitive brands. When the product is harvested from the trees, it is cleaned before being sent out for delivery.
Installing the straws does not take a lot of effort, since you will not have to carry many small or heavy bags.
Area coverage
Overall, the roll can cover an area of 125 square feet. All you need to do is unroll the bale and spread the straw.
- Can be transported easily
- The delivery system is fast
- The bales do not contain any leaves, bark, or sticks
- Can be rolled out with ease
- The pricing is expensive
- Does not justify the spread
Pine Straw Mulch – Pine Needles MulchBest Area Coverage
Pine Straw Mulch
The needle length of this Pine Straw Mulch measures 14 inches and is a great addition for different types of landscapes, like garden areas and flower beds.
It is also effective at controlling the growth of weed. The soil gets insulated from fluctuations in temperatures and does not move from its place, even during heavy rains.
A lot of plant varieties can easily thrive with pine straw mulch, like magnolias, hydrangea, ferns, hostas, camellias, and azaleas.
It is one of the best products on the market today; the company is well-renowned for its prompt delivery system. The pine straw mulch is sustainable and natural. However, the quantity of straws does not justify the pricing.
Area coverage
The 14-inch pine needle mulch can cover an area up to 3,000 square feet.
- One of the most popular products
- Combination of affordability, cleanliness, and durability
- Fast delivery system
- Covers a large area
- Helps in soil insulation
- The quantity does not justify the pricing
Longleaf Pine Straw – Non-ColoredBest Quality
Longleaf Pine Straw
The Longleaf straw is a great product to use if you want to cover your landscapes. The installation does not need a lot of work. You do not have to carry heavy bags or small packages. You can save yourself from all the trouble with the help of this product.
This pine straw is considered one of the best choices if you are looking for alternatives to wood mulches. Additionally, no trees are chopped down to make these products.
The pine needles have been harvested once they touch the ground. The product is, however, quite heavy.
Area coverage
A single box can cover an area of 100 square meters. This means that 12 of these boxes can easily be used in an area of 1200 square meters.
- A great product for landscaping
- The delivery is fast and prompt
- Large area coverage for the ground
- Made of premium materials
- The packaging is hefty
Longleaf Pine Straw – Mulch Colored BrownBest Protection Against UV rays
Longleaf Pine Straw Colored Brown
The longleaf pine straw by Colored Pine Straw is another great entry on this list. A single pallet consists of 90 bags of straw with each bag covering an area of 25 square feet and a depth of 2-3 inches.
Apart from the massive quantity of the straws, it features a colorant that protects the straws from the UV rays like extreme sunlight.
This way, the pine straws last for a longer time and remain just as fresh. Alternatively, this product is also a great choice for smaller footprints like tight landscapes, garden homes, courtyards, etc. It is important that you have ample storage space, though.
Area coverage
With each bag covering an average area of 25-square meters, the entire pallet can easily cover an area of 2,250-square meters.
- Impressive area coverage
- Can be applied in tight areas
- Offers UV-protection
- Long-lasting
- Takes up a lot of storage space
Hanes Geo Components 87458 Straw WattleMost eco-friendly
Hanes Geo Components Straw Wattle
The Hanes Straw is a great addition if you are looking for something to deal with stormwater run-off control, sediment control, and erosion control. Also, the product can be used around storm drains to discourage the run-off of sediment into the stormwater systems.
The straw pines are also available in different lengths and diameters. As intended, they can be used for inlet protection in channels, like dams, and on slopes. The product is, however, cumbersome to apply and expensive as well.
Area coverage
The netting is made in a length of 25 feet, which can easily cover an area of approximately 2000 square feet, making it a great choice for large backyard spaces.
- Biodegradable
- Effective against weed
- Great for problems like prevention of soil erosion
- Heavy to carry around
- Expensive
Buying Guide/FAQs
Here are some common FAQs related to pine straws:
How many square feet does a bale of pine straw cover?
Most of these products are available in a collection of single packages; this means that a single bag can easily cover an area of 30-square-feet, approximately.
Does pine straw attract termites?
When it comes to termite infestation, pine straws do not contain anything that the pests that feed on.
While pine straws cannot keep termites out of your backyard, it makes it very difficult for them to thrive since the insects cannot extract nutrition from the mulch.
It is possible for the pests to germinate and thrive under the soil; however, pine straws provide a protective layer between your precious plants and the insects.
How much pine straw do I need?
This means that you will need three bales of pine straws to cover a single yard of mulch, approximately. Hence, the total amount of pine straws you purchase will overall depend on the length and breadth of your backyard.
To be on the safe side, it is recommended that you buy some extra bales to minimize the margin of error and provide ample coverage.
How to install pine straw?
Final thoughts
Pine straw mulch is a great addition to your backyard. Apart from making the area look great, it will also protect your plants from pests like termites and prevent soil erosion as well.
If you are a gardening enthusiast, purchasing some bales of pine straw is the best thing that you can do for your garden/lawn.
We do hope that you liked reading this article. Pine straws are a great addition to your garden and a much better option than wooden mulch.
If you have never worked with them before, it is recommended that you acquire the services of a professional.
Did you like our Best Pine Straw Review and Pine Straw Calculator? Please comment! And don’t forget to check our other posts – Best Laser Level for Outdoor Use could be interesting for you!