Will Pine Tree Needles Damage My Lawn?

Pine trees can be an excellent addition and asset to your lawn. Of course, they can really add value to your landscape with their evergreen appearance, tall and effective fencing features, and even seasonal appeal, but they’re also relatively easy to grow and take care of.

Whether you’re planning to start from scratch with a brand-new landscape or just trying to improve your current one, a pine tree could be exactly the addition you’re looking for. However, just keep in mind that while pine trees add value to your yard in more ways than one, they can produce some unwanted results too.

Perhaps the most common issue people encounter with pine trees is the pine tree needles falling off. It might sound like just an aesthetic issue, but actually, those needles can often damage patches of grass and slow grass growth or stop it altogether. Your grass needs all its nutrients to continue growing, and pine tree needles could actually disallow the grass from getting what it needs.

At Mr. Tree Services, we love helping landowners and future landowners recognize which types of trees are best for their yards. We provide many services in the Portland, Oregon, area, for both residential and commercial properties, and when we’re not out on a job, we like to show people how they can best maintain their lawns.

Because of that, we’ve put together this article outlining the impact that pine tree needles have on your lawn, including tips for how to remove them and even how you can use them to your advantage.

Do pine tree needles damage your lawn?

If you’re looking for the short answer to whether pine tree needles damage your lawn, the answer is yes. When you have a pine tree, you’re going to need to know how pine needles work and how they could potentially fall off their branches and start damaging your otherwise healthy grass. So make sure you take the time to read through why it hurts your lawn and what you can do to prepare for it.

Pine trees aren’t actually bad to have around. There are even positive aspects of having pine tree needles nearby. So don’t go choosing whether you want a pine tree or not based on this negative impact alone. Let’s dive headfirst into what you can do to make sure your pine tree is serving its unique purpose while also not damaging your lawn too much.

Why do they damage your lawn?

Your lawn needs water, sunlight, and air to grow. Pine tree needles will inevitably fall off their branches, and when they do, they’ll drop to the ground and begin their slow decomposition process.

Since there will likely be multiple pine tree needles falling at a time, they can gather on top of the same patch of grass, blocking the required elements of sunlight and air from getting to the grass. While deciduous leaves also block light from getting to the grass, pine tree needles take their destruction a step further by turning the soil beneath the grass acidic, harming it from the inside.

But what do I do? The pine tree needles have already fallen!

Don’t worry about it. It’s possible that your grass may have already been affected, but from here on out, you can make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’s also possible your grass isn’t permanently damaged, so just head outside and get to pine needle removal. Some lawn mowers do a pretty great job of removing them, but some won’t pick them up at all. It just depends on what kind you have. Test out your lawnmower first, and then with the needles that are left, you’ll want to break out the rake and get raking.

To go even one step further, head outside during the daytime. Look beyond your pine tree to see if its branches are blocking the affected grass patch from getting sun. If the patch isn’t getting enough sunlight throughout the day, you may want to consider pruning (or cutting) your pine tree branches to make sure it’s allowing a clearer path for the sunlight in order for the grass to grow.

Use pine tree needles to your advantage.

It might feel like pine tree needles are a sort of nemesis to your grass at this point, but you actually don’t have to feel that way. Pine tree needles are starting to become a bit of a hot commodity for gardeners. People often use them to purposely remove grass or weeds from a specific area.

Instead of grabbing the pine tree needles off your lawn and just throwing them in the trash, take a look around your yard. Are there any places where you don’t want the grass to continue growing? Are there pesky spots that always seem to sprout weeds whenever you least want them to? Grab those pine needles and drop them on top. It really is an efficient and natural way to get your lawn looking the way you want it to.

Closing words.

There you have it. If you’re worried about the growth of your lawn surrounding your pine tree, you might want to head out there and remove them from the ground when you can.

But perhaps the best way to make sure your lawn is in a good position to continue growing and looking the way you want it to is to contact your local tree service professional, such as Mr. Tree.

From residential to commercial and even industrial services, we’re always excited to do a great job helping people with their yards. If you’re in the Portland, Oregon, area, head over to our contact page and let us help you improve your lawn and make sure you’re prepared for everything that comes with it.