Pine Needles and Grass?

I am planning on roto-tilling my backyard to prepare for grass. The ground is covered with pine needles used as a ground covering in the "Natural Area". I know that needles can be acidic, so I am wondering whether I should rake them up and remove them or just roto-till them into the dirt. Obviously, I do not want to impead my grass with some acid, but it would be a lot easier to not remove them.





Thanks for any thoughts.

Pine Needles and Grass?
A few needles won't hurt, but I'd remove them. Leaf blowers work well for this chore.
Reply:I live in the mountains, surrounded by Ponderosa Pines, with needles everywhere. Needles, although, acidic, are going to be a fact of life with your grass. Mulching them in at about 25-35% ratio is the way we've done our grassy area. I'd just rake over lightly, then till the rest into the soil. I use them in compost too.
Reply:Doest matter what you till in,but if you are going to till for the next season make sure you work in urea. Straight nitrogen This will a very good base for next year, leave it for now. This and keep it black, keep on rototilling, get rid of those little weeds, late fall or early spring, I like Kentuckey Blue grass. If you think you have a problem with acidic nats. Spread some potash on it, trust me youll not need that, when you plant the grass next year apply 11-48-0 fertilizer very gently and you will have a lawn that you have not dreamed of

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