Fir needles

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by warbaby, Jan 8, 2006.

  1. warbaby

    warbaby Apprentice Gardener

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    HELP. Can anyone tell me how to remove fir needles from my granite chipping drive please? My neighbour [with whom I am on good terms] has a HUGE fir tree which was taken from a forest as a sapling, 20 or 30 years later well..... It rains pine needles on to adjoining properties, and if my car is below it gets a sticky residue on it. the needles even travel to other neighbours back garden. The tree is at the roadside.I even extended my drive so I did not have to park below it! The needles do not rot and if unwary whilst weeding borders they run up ones fingernails. painful. Now they are mixed in with stones and to make matters worse, we now have pigeons roosting in it. Help would be appreciated. Thanks-I hope!! Happy New Year to all. :rolleyes: :eek:
     
  2. lisa0307

    lisa0307 Gardener

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    Plastic rake may help gather the worst of them up and any left would rot away.
     
  3. warbaby

    warbaby Apprentice Gardener

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    trouble is rake gathers stones as well!! also they definitely do not rot! I've dug them up as good as new when they have been buried quite deep for several years!! Not a new problem, but one that is becoming increasingly annoying. Thanks for replying anyway, do appreciate it
     
  4. lisa0307

    lisa0307 Gardener

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    How about my weed burner idea, maybe you could incinerate them all and use any ash for your plants
     
  5. Fran

    Fran Gardener

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    Me I'd use a soft bristled brush - less chance of dislodging the chippings, but the needles should sweep up OK.

    Do the needles fall at particular times of the year, if so you can always cover whilst falling and then remove the cover. Unsightly but if its only for a short period could work.
     
  6. lisa0307

    lisa0307 Gardener

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    The tree is probably too dry causing the needles to drop.
     
  7. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    On the burner idea, what about one of those flame gun weeders. You have to be careful though, especially in summer.
    It would save trying to pick them up.
     
  8. warbaby

    warbaby Apprentice Gardener

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    I have not read your idea but will do so pronto! Never would have thought of that! I have a weed wand, but it has due to circs. beyond my control got rusty and I am afraid it will blow up!!! The gas canisters are very rusty too, altho I spose I could throw them away. Anyone know if it would be risky to use weed wand now?? If you all hear an explosion all say RIP Warbaby!! fofl Thank you anyway.
     
  9. lisa0307

    lisa0307 Gardener

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    Better buy a new one, we don't want you coming back all Barbequed lol
     
  10. warbaby

    warbaby Apprentice Gardener

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    It is an all year round problem. even in summer when we have it blowing a hooley yhey come down.Tried a brush but they just dig down into chippings!
     
  11. lisa0307

    lisa0307 Gardener

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    What about a blower and then vac them up.
     
  12. warbaby

    warbaby Apprentice Gardener

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    Thanks for that Lisa! It would be a rather extreme way to get a suntan!!
     
  13. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] How about the hose pipe with the sprayer on a fairly hard jet????? Perhaps do this when the weather & they are dry... Kind of wash them into little piles perhaps that you can then scoop up???
    I know pine needles are bad news... :eek:

    [ 08. January 2006, 09:12 PM: Message edited by: Marley Farley ]
     
  14. warbaby

    warbaby Apprentice Gardener

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    [​IMG] :D Thanks everybody, I will be taking all suggestions and trying out till I succeed.
     
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