How to treat pine straw with dye

As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, many gardeners are thinking about winterizing their gardens. This includes adding mulch to protect plants from cold weather and to retain moisture in the soil.

In some parts of the country, pine straw is a popular mulch choice. But you don’t have to just leave your pine straw as is – you can dye it different colors to add some extra flair to your garden. Keep reading for instructions on how to dye pine straw using two easy methods.

What will you need to treat pine straw with dye?

Fortunately, it does not take a lot of equipment to transform your garden as you spray your pine straw with dye. All it takes is some basic supplies from a local store such as Lowes which you can find by clicking here.

• Pine straw (If you don’t already)
• Garden pump sprayer
• Spare cardboard
• Access to a hose

What is the best dye for pine straw?

Choosing the wrong type of dye can mean your mulch doesn’t remain painted in the color you want for very long or even may cause harmful effects to your garden over time. Here are some of the best reviewed pine straw dyes for safely adding vibrant color to your pine straw.

Enviro care Georgia pine straw dye

Enviro care pine straw dye covers a large area of mulch. According to the packaging it can cover at least 2400 square feet so you should have enough to cover even the largest gardens for multiple seasons. The product is also extremely fast drying so you can get back to walking on your lawn with pine straw as soon as possible.

Reviews say the straw lasts up to 6 months before you need to respray with the mixing instruction being especially easy to follow.

COLORBACK mulch liquid color concentrate

The great thing about this type of mulch is you can spray it on up to 12,800 square feet of area. This is great because you can use this particular brand for lawns with large areas of pine straw.

On Amazon, there are also a wide variety of sizes to pick from however so you won’t necessarily have to buy such a large bottle. The product also will preserve mulch for two to three times longer as well as give it a rich, brown color.

Bedworks mulch dye

What makes this pine straw dye stand out is there are three different colors to pick from. Black, red tint and brown. Coupled with the reviews that say the dye lasts for a long time and is easy to mix and spray, it is fair to say it is a good product.

The dye is also extremely safe for pets and animals and is fast drying. Perfect for a family garden or a space you want to quickly add some energetic color to and get back to using your space normally again.

How to treat pine straw with dye – step by step

Once you have the right dye, the process of changing the color of your pine straw is in fact very simple. Follow the below four steps:

Gather materials

Firstly, confirm you have everything in order before you measure out your dye because the dye can dry quickly which may result in you wasting material if you have to fetch the equipment.

Making sure you use an area you don’t mind getting splashes of dye on like an outdoor grass area or even the pine straw area you intend to work on would be ideal to prevent you from having to clean up in the future.

If you aren’t sure what you will need to dye your pine straw, scroll up for more information.

Mix dye into a spray bottle

On the bottle of dye you have bought, there should be a set of mixing instructions. Before doing anything, make sure you shake the bottle well to get rid of lumps and ensure the dye sprays evenly over your pine straw to create a professional finish. Next, simply mix the dye with water following the instructions,

You can use a funnel as an additional piece of equipment to help effectively transfer dye into your spray bottle. You may also need to remove the fan tip of your spray bottle or any part of the bottle you don’t want to get messy with dye.

Click here for a list of garden pump sprayers you can use for the job.

Cover the areas you don’t want to dye

Mulch dye is extremely strong and can stick to concrete, paving and plastic edging. Making sure you cover up any of these areas you don’t intend on spraying with cardboard would be essential before getting busy dyeing.

Even if you are experienced in spraying and think you have a steady hand you can easily make a mistake and have to spend time scrubbing or pressure washing your outdoor space to reverse the damage.

Alternatively, if you don’t have access to enough cardboard, using water on the area of concrete at risk of overspray would stop the dye from sticking to the concrete straight away. Giving you time to identify and wash away the dye completely before it dries.

Spray

Depending on the spray bottle you’re using, about 12 inches away from the surface of the pine straw, you may now begin spraying your pine straw with dye.

Be positive you’ll apply a sufficient amount of dye to your straw to preserve your mulch and give it a vibrant color. Before adding your dye you may need to use a leaf blower or rake to combine the straw into the right place for spraying if it has been a while since you maintained your outdoor space. Using additional tools made specifically for much edging may also be necessary.

And there you have it, after you have sprayed, check for any overspray that needs to be gotten rid of and that’s it. Your pine straw should remain vivid and colorful for another few months!

When should you dye your pine straw?

Pine straw is often laid down as mulch in the winter as it is great at keeping moisture in the soil, preventing weeds from growing through the soil, and protecting the soil from the elements, so in the spring you can plant again in healthy soil. So just before winter after you have laid down your mulch would be a great time of year.

Spraying before winter also has the added benefit of you not having to go outside in the cold and do additional gardening in undesirable conditions while still being able to benefit from an electrifying looking lawn!

Other than seasonally, pine straw should be dyed when the color in the original spray starts to fade into a light brown or gray. This is where the appearance of old pine straw looks unpleasant.

Reasons for dyeing your pine straw – Is it worth it?

Pine straw dye is excellent for making the pine straw in your garden last a bit longer and also helps give it a visual pop that is more appealing than the gray, washed out color of older pine straw.

This is particularly useful if you are a property owner and need your outdoor area to look good for visitors or viewings. Especially if you use your space for commercial use such as a golf course or a business courtyard.

Dyeing also helps mulch last longer by giving it a coating that prevents bacteria and insects from breaking down the straw as quickly.

Common mistakes when dyeing pine straw

While the process of dying mulch is relatively straightforward. There are some simple missteps you need to avoid. These can include:

Spraying too thin

Using a sufficient cover on your mulch is important not only from an aesthetic point of view but to get the preservation benefit of having a thick coat of dye. Not only does dye look good, but it also stops the breakdown of your pine straw. 

So being stingy with the dye can actually cost you in the long run as you’ll have to replace your mulch sooner.

Not covering areas you don’t want to dye

As a precaution, it is essential you cover the areas of your outdoor space to prevent overspray by permanently marking areas you don’t intend to dye. 

Getting rid of dye can be costly because you may have to buy or hire a pressure washer to remove it. This additional hassle is straightforward to avoid.

Using the wrong dye

Some dyes may appear cheaper as a result of those products not being manufactured for outdoor use on mulch. So make sure your dye is specifically made for spraying outdoors. 

It would be awful for the rain to wash away dye over time as this can cause secondary problems like seeping into the soil and damaging ecosystems and wildlife.

Can you dye other types of mulch other than pine straw?

Yes, you can effectively add color to all types of mulch but not all need to be dyed as they don’t fade in color as quickly as pine straw.

On the other hand, using a spray will often produce rich colors that are unachievable by buying standard mulch. So if it’s your preference to create that visual pop that mulch dye produces, you may find it better to dye mulch anyway.

Alternatives to dyeing pine straw

If the process of dying pine straw seems far too complicated or you don’t decide on dying your straw for whatever reason, don’t panic. There are a series of substitute methods for creating dazzling looking mulch.

Buy new pine straw

The reason why gardeners and landscapers opt for dying their pine straw is because it is less hassle and also saves money by allowing straw to last and look good for longer.

However, if money isn’t an issue and you don’t mind the grunt work to move around the straw, simply buying fresh new colorful straw to replace your faded mulch is a suitable option.

Use fake pine straw or a pine straw roll

Much like fake grass, there are also fake mulches you can buy that mimic the organic look of pine straw. Seeing what you can find at a store that specializes in gardening equipment, you may be able to find fake grass, mulch, or even ornaments to cover faded mulch. Explore a range of products like this here at a store like Home Depot.

Use mulch that doesn’t fade

If dyeing is not for you, use mulch that doesn’t need dying. This can include rubber or plastic mulch which will take a long time to fade in color and break down due to being man-made.

Using mulch that can quickly and cheaply be replaced with older, faded mulch like grass clipping or compost may also be an applicable choice. However, sometimes these types of mulch need other treatments like needing to be tied with nets which makes it not worth it. So consider the new type of mulch you apply with caution

To conclude

In conclusion, dyeing pine straw is a simple process perfect for someone looking to add a dash of color to their mulch without breaking the bank or spending all day replacing material.

Once you get familiar with the process, it can be something you repeat every year or every few seasons to maintain a healthy looking outdoor space. Before you get started, be sure to avoid mistakes and plan out the best way to move forward for you as you may find dyeing your mulch isn’t even necessary and using another do-it-yourself mulch idea is a better choice.