Frequently Asked Questions

                    What is pine straw?

                        Pine straw is the naturally shed leaves ("needles") of pine trees.     

                    Where do you ship?

                        We ship anywhere in the U.S.

                    I need a large quantity for an environmental remediation,

                    environmental restoration, or an erosion control project.

                    Do you ship large quantities?

                        We do. Click HERE for our environmental page. We can ship any

                        quantity and have various discounts and shipping options available.

                     I need a small quantity for my bird houses and crafts.

                     Do you sell in smaller quantities?

                         We do. Click HERE for our bird nest, bird house and craft sized boxes.

                     The shipping cost seems a little high. Are you

                      folks making extra money on the shipping?

                            No we aren't. All of the shipping companies now charge based

                            on the size of a package as well as the weight of it. Although

                            pine straw is not really heavy, it is bulky. Our pine straw bales

                            are compressed for shipping, but we are still charged close to a

                            50 pound flat rate shipping charge due to size. We charge

                            you what we get charged. However, you will find that even with

                            the shipping charges what they are, we can ship pine straw right

                            to your door at prices that are very competitive with other

                            premium mulches.

                    Can we pickup at your facility to avoid shipping costs?

                            Yes you can. We offer additional discounts for local pick up and   

                            can also deliver locally for a small fee. If you decide to pick up,

                            please call us in advance so we can set your product aside for

                            you. During certain times of the year, our inventory fluctuates

                            heavily and can get low. We want to make sure you don't waste a 

                            trip. We also will need to give you directions to our storage facility,

                            which is separate from our main office.

                        What type and size of pine straw do you sell?

                            We sell loblolly pine straw. The needle length averages about 9 inches.

                            This needle size makes the pine straw easy to apply and shape, as

                            well as an ideal mulch. This size needle is the optimum for allowing

                            the soil to breathe well while allowing excellent water infiltration.

                    Where can I find more information on pine straw?

                            The Texas Cooperative Extension service, a part of the Texas A&M

                            University System, published a brochure titled: Pine Straw as a

                            Ground Cover Mulch. You can download it HERE for free. If you have

                            trouble downloading it, let us know and we'll send you one for free.

                            Pine Straw Direct owner Scott Jacobs has also authored an article on how

                            pine straw outperforms other mulches. You can download it HERE for free.

                    I heard pine straw is acidic and will make my soil

                    acidic and is only good for acid loving plants?

                            This is a myth. Any plant that can be grown with other mulches

                            can be grown with pinestraw as a mulch. Here's why: pine straw in

                            itself is slightly acidic, but only at the acidity level of normal rain

                            water. The majority of all plants (ornamental, flowering, vegetables,

                            etc.) require a slightly acidic soil for maximum nutrient uptake from

                            the soil. Testing shows pine straw is right in that perfect range of

                            acidity for maximum nutrient uptake . Scott Jacobs with Pine

                            Straw Info (www.PineStrawInfo.com) performed extensive testing

                            on pine straw acidity. Click  HERE  to read his report titled: Pine

                            Straw (Pine Needle) Mulch Acidity: Separating Fact From

                            Fiction Through Analytical Testing

                    How thick should I lay my pine straw mulch?

                            2.5 to 3 inches is good, but some people like it 5 to 6 inches deep.

                    How many square feet does a bale cover?                   

                            Each of our bales cover about 120 square feet at 2.5 inches thick.

                    How big are your bales?

                            Each of our bales are compressed and are about 18 inches in

                            diameter, about 28 inches tall, and weigh about 40 pounds.

                            This size is about the largest bale you can buy.

                    How many pine straw bales should I order?

                            Click here to use our online calculator to help you decide.       

                    How do I apply my pine straw mulch?

                            Each pine straw bale is compressed for shipping. After removing

                            from the shipping box, simply unroll the pine straw bale, grab handfuls of the pine

                            straw and shake and scatter loosely to achieve the recommended coverage. If

                            spread correctly, the pine straw should be very loose and fluffy. Click on this

                            Pine Straw Mulch Spreading  link to see our video.                

                    It is very windy where I live. Will my pine straw blow away?

                            Once it is properly applied, it will withstand high winds. You can see some

                            pictures HERE showing our pine straw before and after Hurricane Ike. To

                            properly apply your pine straw, shake and scatter loosely to achieve the

                            recommended coverage. If spread correctly, the pine straw should be very

                            loose and fluffy. Then, water in well which will create an even pine straw mat.

                    How long does pine straw last?

                            Pine straw breaks down slowly, but like other mulches, it will need

                            to be refreshed occasionally, both for depth and for fresh color.

                            When you need to refresh it, you will need much less than when

                            applying for the first time. Once or twice a year, take a small amount

                            and lightly sprinkle a thin layer on top of your older pine straw, or on

                            top of any other mulch you currently have.  

                    I'm a landscaper. I heard this can save me time and

                    money. Is that true?

                            If you are not already familiar with pine straw mulch, it has been

                            used extensively in gardening and landscaping along the southern

                            Gulf Coast and East Coast for as long as 25 years. It is very

                            lightweight and easier to spread than most mulches. One of our

                            round bales weighs about 40 pounds and covers about 120 square

                            feet at about 2.5 inches thick. To spread it, you just roll the bale to

                            the area you wish to cover, cut the twine, and grab handfuls of the

                            pine straw and shake it into a nice fluffy layer. Once you water it in

                            (or it rains), it will settle to a nice even mat of intertwined needles

                            that won't float or wash away easily. It is the best mulch for

                            erosion control. As you know, many homes that do not have rain

                            gutters have the landscaping around them torn up after every rain.

                            Rain easily infiltrates pine straw and evenly disperses the water,

                            without floating out of the flower beds. Pine straw breathes better

                            and doesn't compact like some other mulches. It does not attract

                            termites. It's natural, organic, and sustainably produced, and like

                            other mulches, it adds organic material and nutrients to the soil,

                            reduces weeds, and saves water. Best of all, due to its light weight

                            and ease of application, it will save you and your company both

                            time and money, all at a competitive price. Let us ship straight to

                            your customer's door so your mulch is ready and waiting when

                            your crew arrives.

        When will my order ship?

                            Your order will normally be shipped within one day. Since we bale

                             and ship your pine straw fresh, short delays in baling and shipping

                             can occur due to unseasonable amounts of rain, etc. This is

                             necessary in order to ensure a fresh and relatively dry product

                             so you receive the full quantity we advertise. You will be notified of

                             any delay longer than one week. Please allow up to two weeks

                             for  delivery.       

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