We all know soil has to be fluffy and contain nutrients, bla bla bla... when we plant a tree in the ground, the most we change is the immediate close to the plant soil- but the tree finds the way through rocks, clay, bad soils and all in between. 

So, why start a tree in 'potting mix', which in essence is fake soil for container tree? Why not mix regular soil to pine needles, bark, etc?  it just occurred to me, with my blueberries, they grew poorly in the ground, last fall, I removed them from soil and planted them in buckets in 100% pine needles and rotten pine needles and bark...should see their spring growth!

I am very tempted in making some of this pine mix for some of my own fig cuttings to see how they react. I cannot afford to buy potting soil and looking for alternatives - please share your experiences... 

I don't have any immediate experience with figs but I know where I'm at the "gumbo" soil would kill them off before they get started. When I plant anything I put compost in a big hole and when they're strong enough to grow beyond it they thrive. I think it's just getting them to the point where they're strong enough.

I was born and raised in the Seattle area and you have fantastic soil. I would think you could mix the pine needles with a compost and the soil you have. I just mixed in a little compost when I lived there and truth be told most of the time I didn't even do that. Everything that didn't need too much sun thrived. I did use tons of manure as well.

My Japanese maples love it as well as the lilacs, lillies, grasses, plums etc...

I don't think you should stress it too much you have the good stuff already :)

Hi Grasa.
Nice to hear how good your blueberries are growing with the pine mix.

I searched up "pine" under username "penandpike" and came up with this: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/search?searchid=24142027&showas=post&userid=1652421&sort=lastpost&order=desc

There are four posts about pine needles.

I would say try your local dump for free compost, or local farms.  If you mixed your pine needles/ pine bark with the compost/topsoil it should be just fine I would think.

helpful input! thanks, here is a link I found also helpful.

http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/hot_topics/lawn_and_garden/homemade_potting_mix.html

thanks for this link- great resources I did not know of some of the places... I have my hens and their waste and I compost everything I can. Have my worm bin also - I just hate the idea I have to be buying soil that is not that rich and have to buy fertilizer to feed the poor soil,  while supportig the ongoing depleting of our earth resources through mining, etc...just does not make sense to me.  However, I am not going to reinvent the wheel about this, so, I have to experiment and see how it goes.

Glad to help!  As you're already composting, you may be aware of this (especially being in Seattle!) but if you talk to the local coffee shops and fast food places (i.e. McDonalds, Dunkin' Donuts, etc.) they will usually give away their old coffee grounds for free to gardners.  This makes great compost and the worms love it!

Hi Grasa,

I have a couple thoughts on the pine products.
They are on the acidic side, blueberries love that, figs do not. I have read some however that states that the acidity does not last as the material composts naturally. Adding lime I'm sure will counter that, how much lime(?)...I don't know. Sounds like a great experiment.

In my area the soil pH is not good for blueberries. I have two bushes that are going into their 3rd summer and doing great. I tested the soil and adjusted accordingly with pelletized sulfur, very deep, removing the first layer of soil tilling-in and repeating. I went waaay beyond that though and got pine tree crazy on the soil. I added a 3 cubic foot block of peat moss to the area as well as several bushels of pine needles and a couple bags of small pine bark chunks, all tilled-in. To top it off there is a 3 inch thick layer of pine bark. I wish I could have stopped there, but the area was rampant with bindweed and other weeds, so I put landscape fabric on top of that and a final layer of shredded pine bark which looks nice, stays in place when I blow the leaves, and feels nice under my bare feetsies. The immediate planting hole was also filled with ~80% peat plus some soil and additional additives. I water them with collected rain water always, unless I leave town in which cause they get the sprinklers with Denvers finest. Everyone told me you can only grow blueberries in pots around here. It was initially alot of work, but don't we all love playing in the dirt? I love blueberries.

Lots of effort for a love! Good for you, Calvin!

On a side note Calvin, try growing some wild blueberries, you may be just on the edge of hardiness for them but they are so tasty, don't expect big plants or big yields though.