It makes me wonder why pine fines would be used at all. Anything I have read says that using wood mulch such as pine fines removes nitrogen from the soil in order to break down for at least the first year and even into the second year. This means the plants planted there would be lacking in nitrogen an essential component for optimum growth
Taken from the net ...... "Nitrogen is a component of chlorophyll and therefore essential for photosynthesis. It is also the basic element of plant and animal proteins, including the genetic material DNA and RNA, and is important in periods of rapid growth. Plants use nitrogen by absorbing either nitrate or ammonium ions through the roots.
Also taken from the net "The problem arises during the decomposition phase. At that time, so much nitrogen may be tied up in the bodies of microorganisms that plants are unable to obtain all they need to be healthy. This leads to pale leaves and stunted growth, symptoms of nitrogen deficiency."
Wouldnt think it would be a good practice.
