Mulch is a better moisture and weed barrier. Both pine straw and mulch are good for retaining water and keeping weeds at bay, but mulch has shown to outperform pine straw in this regard.

When applied correctly, pine straw prevents evaporation of water from the soil, reduces the growth of weeds, and helps prevent soil compaction and erosion. Pine straw also protects plants from freezing conditions, helping to keep the soil around the plants at a stable temperature.

Weed Control Pine needles are also excellent as a weed deterrent as it reduces their growth and protects your shrubs and trees from rotting. When using pine straw to reduce the amount of weeds in your landscape, apply it at about 3 inches deep. The deeper the pine straw, the better the protection against weeds.