Since people are careless with cigarettes I prefer and use only mulch in NC, besides pines needles can create ouchies.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

Well, here's an answer you probably did not want to get, but "Yes, I use both," However, there are reasons. I prefer the look of shredded wood mulch, but if I use it in my back yard, our dogs find the chunks that were not completely ground up, chew on it, and bring it into the house through the doggie door particularly when we are not home. So I use shredded wood mulch in the front yard and pine straw or very fine pine bark mulch in the back yard. I think that the shredded wood mulch lasts a bit longer, especially in areas that get any foot traffic since dry pine straw is very brittle.
I have heard that the decomposition of the wood mulch requires nitrogen, so it competes with the plants for the nitrogen in the soil. However, this can be solved by applying a little high-nitrogen fertilizer or extra compost to balance the needs of both mulch and green plants. Decomposed pine straw is probably a bit more acidic than wood mulch. This is said with only observational back-up since pine straw is such a popular and successful mulch around azaleas and other acid-loving plants here in the South. Perhaps someone else can provide that answer with some scientific background.
Larry

I have never seen pine straw sold. Can you buy it? Someone said ti can cause owees. I have never seen very fine pine bark mulch. Where I live it's in very big chunks. Wish I could find that.

You can get a truck load here for $32.00 at a garden place that does landscaping. Better price than the bags. I think it is called 1 cubic yard load of shredded mulch.
Jill

Hey gang---I'm new to daylilies and would like to know if shreded leaves are a good mulch to use (I have a garbage bag full from last fall)or should I just compost the leaves?

I've bought pine straw at the local "Lowes" store. I got some terrible weeds in my beds after using this. Don't know if it was just a coinsidence or if the seeds were in the straw. I only bought it one time.

I buy "Mini Pine Bark Nuggets" at my local "Wal Mart" store. I use it in my potting mix for my daylilies. It's very small, maybe the biggest is a half inch size. So far I really like it. I'll know more about this by next spring.

I've used mulched oak leaves for many years in my beds. I think it really helps to amend my bad clay soil.

If I could afford it, I would put the regular size pine bark nuggets around all my flower beds, but it is just too expensive at this time. I am going to start adding some as I can.

All of this advice is strictly what I do in my garden and might not be what is good for your plants. I would recommend talking to local gardeners and a call to you local Cooperative Extension Service can get you some really good advice.

Hope this helps just a little bit.

Blessings to all, Mona

Hi Jill I dont use eather as if my plants cant make it up here thay wouldnt be hardy enough for my garden however Ido use some compost at times.

Hello Jill:

Here in the hot, sunny Sand Hills area of NC, I use pine bark fines (small, shreded pine bark). It is plentiful and not too expensive. It is great for the soil as it breaks down easily and improves the soil. It helps keep the roots cooler in our sometimes 100 degree weather and I think that it discourages visitors such as slugs and sometimes the stinking geese that like to trample through my yard. 'Round here, pine needles are free but I don't like them because of the bugs that consider them home - little red bugs AKA "chiggers" and if you have EVER sat on pine needles, you will NEVER forget it. They are cousins to other unmentionable critters and the red bumps are where they have laid eggs - 'nough said on that!

And Larry (sweatin in ga) is right about the nitrogen issue, but the usual application of 18-6-12 granular fertilizer solves that problem.

Hope this helps!
Renee

Thanks for that info on nitrogen, I have several beds with shredded mulch, I need to add some to the plants.
Jill

Renee, I don't know what bugs you are talking about, but you talked me out of the pine straw, though the gentleman I bought my daylilies from suggested it. It sounds like I definitely don't want it. ggg He also suggested oak leaves but here in Florida there are not a great many oak trees. My magnolia tree sheds leaves, but they are so big. I'm going to check on the fine pine bark. I've only seen the big pine bark. Hope I can get the small. Teh soil I bought has it in there.

I have made a bunch of phone calls today and no nursery here carries shredded pine bark (regular huge pieces I knew they had) neither do they carry pine straw, though I was talked out of that on this forum. So.. I could get eucalyptus mulch (a "green way to go) cypress,etc. Suggestions? I wish I could get it as from what I've read here it woudl improve my soil. The big pine bark I feel distracts from the look of delicate flowers. I called our best nursery and they had never heard of it. They suggested I call Ace Hardware or HOme Depot but I know they don't carrry it. Help!

Home Depot has it here in NE MS, but we also have billions of pine trees in our state. This may be a product that is regional. We do call it "Mini Pine Bark Nuggets" not the shredded pine bark. Shredded is different from the nuggets.

Good luck, Mona

Thanks, Mona.Will the mini pine bark nuggets help the soil? I don't think our H.D. has it, but maybe they can get it.?? The shredded sounds more biodegradable.

I've had great results using pine straw. Basic reasons are that it's free and also seems to help counteract the alkaline nature of our soil here in southeastern AZ. My daylilies have really thrived since I started using it. I haven't had any problems with chiggers or other insect pests, but we may be too dry for them. I can't afford to buy the large amount of shredded bark necessary to mulch my beds. Then I wouldn't have any money for buying daylilies. LOL Besides, my dogs also love to chew on it so I quit using it.

Dave

I went to a nursery that was recommended today and found the very small pine bark nuggets. The only problem is it's not bagged and so I have to find someone who is willing to drive all the way up there and back with a truck. I don't remember if it was 12 dollars a yard or half yard, because I've never bought like that before. So far I have not found anywhere that sold pine straw. How important is mulching the beds? How thick should the mulch be? I don't know if I can afford to mulch the whole bed. This bed is pretty big, but daylilies are not on the whole bed.Don't know how it would look to mulch only part of the bed, though. How does the pine bark look compared to cypress, beauty wise?

OK folks, I live in south central AL. where the summers are hot and humid....and my preferred mulch material is pine straw. NEVER have I gotten any kind of bugs with it. It breaks down and enriches your soil very nicely and looks good too. We do have "chiggers" around here, but I've never gotten any from raking and spreading pinestraw. I have bought it, but prefer to rake my own and since I have some pine trees and my daughter also has pine trees, it's easy for me to obtain. I also use pine fines when I don't have pine straw handy but it washes badly if we get a heavy downpour of rain. I mainly use the pine fines tilled into my new beds or mixed with potting soil when potting new dl's.
Jan

Hi Tweetypye, if I had my own pine straw, I'd use it too. Free mulch and easy to obtain, and it's working for you. I am envious!