Effect of Pine Trees on Vegetable Gardens

Pine trees are notorious for preventing growth both beneath their branches and long after they are removed. The trees impact soil in significant ways, but the good news is that they may not all be bad for a vegetable garden.

Pine needles cause high levels of acidity in soil where they decompose, perhaps the most commonly cited reason why planting around pine trees is so hard. Luckily, vegetables in general tend to love acidic soil, so they are an excellent choice for planting around pines.

The resin in pine needles acts to preserve the plants, but it can adversely affect seeds of other plants by delaying or preventing germination. Start vegetables from sprouts rather than seeds to avoid this.

Because pine trees themselves are actually not very nutrient-demanding on soil, they are often left in un-amended, un-fertilized soil for prolonged periods. Always test the soil at a local garden center or make sure to add plenty of compost for vegetables to grow properly.

Sun-loving vegetables simply will not grow beneath most pine trees. The exception to this is in hot arid climates where pines can actually make year-round vegetable patches possible by protecting plants from the summer sun. Make sure that the vegetables planted will tolerate low light levels throughout the season.

Pines can be very drought-tolerant, but their wide root base makes running underground drip lines problematic. Plan on soak-watering the vegetable patch by hand if planted too near to pine trees.