A garden expert around here says that it's a myth that evergreen needles will make the soil too acidic. I have lots of scrub pines and the needles fall in my daylily beds. I leave them and am happy to get the free mulch with no effort--although I do add compost. I know people who buy pine needles to use as mulch and not just for acid loving plants.
Val

Thanks Val, I'm glad to hear someone confirm from experience. I looked on line & found mostly those that agree with you, but there were a few that said pine needles make the soil acidic. I'm going to try it, maybe in a couple of years I'll test my soil again to see how it is. Generally the soil is pretty acidic here anyway & I have added lime before. I guess I can always do it again.

I would use them and I am sure they will be fine.

I think that what the expert said was that when the pine needles dry out--and the ones that fall are usually dry--they lose their acidity. I had worried about the acidity too since the soil here tends to be acid, but the last time I had my soil tested it was close to neutral.
Val

That sounds great! I've already put some around, I rather like the look.