I'm sorry to disagree with some of the other contributors, but unless you have several tons of the stuff a mulch won't significantly increase the acidity of the soil. And even if it did worry you an application of lime would reduce any build up of acidity.
I agree with Dave. Microbes and fauna in healthy garden soil will in time naturally buffer to an approximately neutral pH.
So long as you do not dig the pine needles in, over-acidification will only occur at the soil-mulch interface. Not deeper down below, where plants' roots will be quite unaffected.
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I really appreciate your knowledge and expertise.
I'm sorry to disagree with some of the other contributors, but unless you have several tons of the stuff a mulch won't significantly increase the acidity of the soil. And even if it did worry you an application of lime would reduce any build up of acidity.
I agree with Dave. Microbes and fauna in healthy garden soil will in time naturally buffer to an approximately neutral pH.
So long as you do not dig the pine needles in, over-acidification will only occur at the soil-mulch interface. Not deeper down below, where plants' roots will be quite unaffected.