Posted on 02/01/2012 5:32:19 AM PST by orsonwb
Yes.
I don’t know if it makes a difference or not, but I used the long pine needles. And Connecticut soil is rather acidic to begin with, so perhaps what you read is correct.
Too bad about the birds and your bushes.
I simply draped lightweight netting over the bushes after they were done flowering. The netting has to go to the ground and maybe place some weights on the ends to keep it from blowing around...don’t let the birds find a way in.
Yes, the pine needles helped. Initially I laid it thickly, maybe 4 or 5 inches. The pine also made weeding so much easier. The weeds didn’t seem to have a firm grasp on the soil. Previously it was a chore to weed.
Pine needles are about the best.
Thanks.
How about blue spruce needles?
We have blue spruce. Can get pine needles.
Am building another raised bed. Though I could put them in the one by the maple. It doesn’t have full sun as much.
pondering.
Thx thx. I sure love blueberries. Just didn’t realize what I was doing wrong.
Knew about the acid soil but was using acid fertilizer.
The alkaline water must have been a biggy, too.
Is there any healthy way to get the roots to spread out?
It seems like they don’t grow much from the tiny pot form they were originally in.
I would do the raised bed but dig down and loosen the soil deeply and work a lot of peat into it.
Peat is acidic. A deep mulch with spruce needles will help with water retention and with acid.
Some roots can’t penetrate hard pan and you have to help them a bit.
You might enjoy this video too.
I’ve watched it a couple of times. Inspiring.
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