Question
QUESTION: We live in the Twin Cities, MN. Lived here 20+ yrs Have 6 pines on the street side of our house.  I think there are 2 kinds, some with pine cones and then without which the branches slope down.  Our problem is massive needles/weeds/trees growing underneath them lately.  I read in one of your earlier answers not to use landscaping fabric.  What about heavy plastic?  I want to put mulch under all the trees, however, I don't want weeds coming through.  We don't want to put edging around them either.  What can you suggest for us non-gardners want low or no maintenance.  Thanks

ANSWER: Mulch will work fine around the trees--pine straw is good. Mulch with not more than 3 inch deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. Do not use plastic under the mulch. The distance around the tree is up to you. The main reason for much around older trees is to keep the mowers away from the trunk. The weeds and young tree sprouts can be mowed keeping them down or you can completely mulch under the trees. Any green growth that comes up in the mulch can be sprayed with a herbicide called Roundup. The herbicide will be taken up by the leaves of the plant transported down to the roots of the weed or grass and kill the plant in the mulch.  Roundup will kill any green plant it is sprayed on so make sure no leaves of plants not wanting killed are not wet with the spray. You can spray Roundup on the trunk of a tree with out harming the tree. Roundup can be found at any nursery/garden type store.

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QUESTION: Thank you.  However, I went to a nursery asked the same question and everything was totally opposite of what you said.  Told me whatever I do, DO NOT to spray, leave pine needles, use landscaping fabric and river rock or wood chips.  Now I am more confused than ever.  I also got conflicting answers from books, one says landscaping fabric is ok, one said heavy plastic is ok, one said neither is ok.  Thank you.

Answer
Well I still say use the Roundup. The fabric and the plastic will stop (plastic) or slow the water from reaching the roots. Rocks will compress the soil damaging the trees roots. The pine needles are a great mulch and if you have a ready supply these will work fine. Just mowing every week will keep the needles up (if that is what you want) and keep the sprouts from growing.