Market Demands and Characteristic Preferences for Pine Straw in Alabama

Pine straw is a popular landscape mulch material used by landowners and homeowners throughout the southeastern United States. Pine straw is collected, transported, and sold through an informal network of landowners, harvesters, forest labor contractors, and dealers. Quality varies widely, depending on factors such as species of pines, land management practices, and harvesting techniques. A mail survey of landscapers, retailers, and lawn maintenance specialists was used to assess market demand and characteristic preferences of those buying and selling pine straw in Alabama. Purchase volumes varied widely among buyers, both annually and for single-time purchases. Buyers placed high importance on straw free from weeds and foreign material. There were differences in species of pine straw purchased among respondents, some of which appear attributable to location of the buyer. While there was a strong preference for longleaf pine straw, those who reported purchasing loblolly and slash were more likely to prefer...