Question
Hello. I recently moved to the country with a large yard underneath 90% Ponderosa Pine and 10% Oaks in Northern California (Twain) and would like to know if the bed of needles should be raked up to foster native grasses? I have heard somewhere that coniferous pine needles inhibite ground growth. Is there anything to this? I also heard not to tamper with the ground needle cover as it removes a protective layer of ground. My soil is mostly sandy (Feather River) riverside soils. Topsoil is minimal. Please render your opinion on this. I am getting two sides to this problem. Thanks. Larry W.  

Answer
Pine needles are used as mulch to keep weeds and grasses from coming up. So it all depends on what you want in your yard needles or grass-If you want grass rake the needles and put them as mulch some where else. Do not worry about the soil layer--the grasses will over time add to the topsoil better than the needles.