Would like a planting suggestion for privacy screen under/between mature white pines. White pines were planted on lot lines 20 yrs. ago -- have lost lower branches up to 6-8 ft. Can't find anything that will tolerate: shade, dry, waterlogged, clay, heavily compacted, and zero organic matter. . . which describes almost all of Pennsylvania. Every tree and shrub I see in the nursery say: 'moist, well-drained soils with high organic matter, full sun or thereabouts' and will die just weeks after planting anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Few plants can tolerate compacted clay soil; therefore, your best bet is to amend it. Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
In addition, you might find the following article helpful too: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/xeriscape/xeriscape-landscape-design-ideas-for-clay-soil.htm
Can I place pine needles in existing garden and plow them into soil now? And will they be ready for next spring's garden?
Pine needles make your soil more acidic - knowing if your soil is acidic or alkaline will determine use. I add "stuff" to my soil and if it does not break down completely by Spring, it does provide texture. It will break down eventually but do consider the PH factor.
What can I buy to treat my pine trees that are infested with bagworms and where? They are eating my trees rapidly. Please help.
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/treatment-bagworms.htm
I have an abundance of dry pine needles. Is there a good use for this material?
People commonly use extra pine needles for mulch. They will raise the acid level of the soil you mulch with them, but this can be very good for acid loving plants and vegetable gardens.
I am in the Catskills region of NY, Zone 5. I have four huge white pines. I was leaving the straw on the ground, as nothing can compete with the pines anyway and it is not an unattractive natural mulch for the trees. However, I learned the hard way that the straw is a haven for deer ticks. I found 50-100 ticks on me when painting a fence under the pines. What should I do? I heard removing the needles is bad for the trees.
You can remove the straw. It is healthy for the trees if it stays because it makes a nice mulch that helps keep moisture in the soil. As long as the trees are getting enough water, removing the pine straw is fine.
That being said, you can also try treating the ground with an insecticide first to see if that reduces the tick problem. It might save you the work of having to remove all the straw.
I have an area around a pine tree (I planted day lilies all around the front of the base of the tree 7 years ago) that is full of thistle. I keep hand pulling it, but it keeps growing back. I was wondering about planting other native Indiana plants that might help to crowd out the thistle. Any suggestions?
Yes, it would help but you'll have to get rid of the thistle first. They are tough to get rid of once established because of their root and rhizome system. In addition, their seed is very viable, blows easily in the wind, and will establish just about anywhere. Pull up what you can and spot treat the area with Roundup, preferably in the late summer to fall BEFORE the weed goes to seed. You could also try suffocating it with plastic, landscape fabric, ormoist newspaper covered with mulch.
My yard is primarily pine trees. I've been told that when the sap rises in the trees, it produces the noise that people often think is made by cicadas. Can moving sap really cause the forest hum?
Well, this is a new one on me. The sap flowing through pine trees does not make that sound, but the cicada noise would indeed be coming from the trees. Cicadas actually favor pine trees for feeding and will often chant their 'mating' calls from the trees as well. This is why you hear them so good around pine trees, though they do get loud enough to hear them just about anywhere.