Pine Straw

[Bob Fraser]

If anyone is looking for pine straw, search on "pine straw" on Craigs List - you'll probably come up with multiple suppliers free (if you rake) or maybe $5 or so for a large bag.

[Dave Duit]

Thanks for the info. I do all my own raking for pine needles, but for those searching for alternatives this is a great alternative.

[Chriscreole]

I live in an area that doesnt have pines, what else can be used in place of pine straw?

[Jeff Robinson]

Chris,
Not sure about your area, but you can go online and have White Pine Straw shipped to you for a reasonable cost, and that box, depending on how many holes you have, will last you for at least 2 - 3 years.

[wyatt]

Chris, have you checked Lowes and Home Depot? It's hard to believe that they don't keep a semi-trailer in the parking lot with pinestraw in it.

[daveh]

Chris, check your local large nurseries. They should have it. That's where I get mine.
dave

[Kathy in VA]

These are the materials that I've heard can be used for martin pre-nests or that my martins have brought into their gourds for nest material: pine needles (brown/dry, purchased, or fallen on the ground—not pulled from the tree!), straw (wheat straw used by landscapers to cover newly-seeded lawns, available from garden centers and livestock feed supply stores), dried corn husks (sold as Tamale Wrappers in the grocery store; cut into smaller pieces), cedar shavings, dry leaves, mulch, and little sticks/twigs. You can cut the straw into smaller pieces by putting it in a deep bucket or tub and using long pruning shears to coarsely chop it up (makes it more easily manageable (easier to stuff into gourds, lays down better in nests.) The martins will add green leaves when they are ready.

Grass clippings and sawdust will pack down too much, clogging up the drainage holes and holding too much moisture. It’s better to use nest materials that will stay loose so they can breathe and moisture can run thru or evaporate. Fresh grass clippings would get moldy, like when composting. I’ve heard of using hay, but it may have a higher moisture content and absorb/hold additional moisture more readily than straw. Sawdust gets really soggy if water comes into the gourd/house—I helped a friend do end-of-season clean-outs, and the globs of junk inside his gourds were nasty-wet and breeding some sort of huge insects that looked like monster-lice! Just try something soft, loose, and not too prickly or scratchy (and not long and stringy that would be an entanglement hazard—like baling twine, hair, or cloth.) The martins may remove some of what you put in there and replace it with something else, but if you offer a variety of materials to them, out in an open area, preferably in elevated trays or wire baskets, they can find something they like without having to hunt for nest materials down on the ground under trees where they are more likely to be grabbed by predators.

[rrmartins]

I live in an area that doesnt have pines, what else can be used in place of pine straw?

I go over to Bastrop and pick them up on the roadside.

[Matt F.]

Just an FYI, nice sized 20 pound bales of slash pine needles are available from the PMCA store.
They are here:
Click here for pine needles at PMCA store

[mayhaw10]

Hello Chriscreole, and the Gang....
We live here in south Ga and Pine trees all over the place. I hope that
2012 will be the year that I get some Martins. We have not had any for
four years now. Got new houses up and Today put up a pole Rack with 8 gourds and put the Pine straw about level with the bottom of the hole.
Just keep watching the Sky
Mayhaw10

[KathyF]

Another option - public parks often have white pines planted around. Park personnel are often trying to mulch them with mowers, so they'd probably be happy to see you with a rake & bag in hand.