Not rotted pine needles are often used as mulch covering the soil around the stems, stalks of fruit and vegetable crops. Indeed, such a mulching not only retains moisture, protects the soil from erosion, helps to preserve and improve the soil structure, but also reduces the number of weeds.
In addition, thanks to her summer heats up less land, and the wet and cool conditions roots are more favorable for plant growth. Besides, under the mulch soil remains loose, and greatly facilitates access of air to the roots.
In winter, the mulched needles land retains heat better, decreasing its freezing.
The only addition to this - the application of nitrogen fertilizers. After all, in a layer of pine needles will be held degradation processes that require nitrogen. If fertilization does not make, nitrogen is absorbed from the soil, which in turn will adversely affect the growth and development of plants that will suffer from the lack of this element.
