edit: well, it looks like that PDF access does not work, so here is the ref: "Impact of Mulches on Landscape Plants and the Environment --- A Review" - by Linda Chalker-Scott J. Environ. Hort. 25(4):239-249. December 2007 Mulch Problems --- Real and Perceived Acidification. Organic mulches such as wood chips and bark are thought by some to be soil acidifiers. No scientific research supports this, and in fact studies refute this perception. One study found neither pine bark nor pine needles had any affect on soil pH (51). A second report (60) found bare soil to be more acidic than soil covered by inorganic mulch, and that shredded bark and wood chips were least acidifying of all treatments. Similarly, a year-long study found that the soils under organic mulches were either more alkaline or not affected by mulch treatment (100). ItâÂÂs likely that in artificial conditions, such as nursery production, that woody materials do have an acidifying effect when they are used as part of a potting medium. Release of phenolic acids is one stage of the decomposition of woody material, and if this material comprises the bulk of medium then acidification is likely to occur. In a field situation, however, where the woody material is used as a mulch (and not worked into the soil), any acidification will be localized within the mulch layer and have little effect on the vast underlying soil environment below. Thus, soil acidification due to mulching with woody plant material is unlikely to occur under real world conditions. Greenly, K. and D. Rakow. 1995. The effects of mulch type and depth on weed and tree growth. J. Arboriculture 21:225-232. Iles, J.K. and M.S. Dosmann. 1999. Effect of organic and mineral mulches on soil properties and growth of âÂÂFairview Flame Râ red maple trees. J. Arboriculture 25:163-167. Pickering, J.S. and A. Shepherd. 2000. Evaluation of organic landscape mulches: composition and nutrient release characteristics. Arboricultural J. 23:175-187. Here is a link that might be useful: Impact of Mulches on Landscape Plants and the Environment This post was edited by Fascist_Nation on Tue, Oct 22, 13 at 10:45

Neither of them is going to contribute much to the soil short term. Both are very durable materials (provided what species tree the "cedar" actually comes from - too many different conifers are referred to as "cedar", of which most are not) and used as mulch will take considerable time (several years) to break down/decompose enough to the point they release nutrients back into the soil. btw, wood chip or bark mulches do not rob nitrogen from the soil. That is a tough to kill garden myth :-) Nitrogen tie up (not robbing or stealing) occurs during decomposition of the wood product by soil organisms and only happens if the wood product is incorporated into the soil, not if left on the soil surface as a mulch. And is of minimal consequence to established woody plants, like any fruit trees. It is also only a temporary condition, resulting in a net release of N long term. If you want a fast acting mulch that will encourage soil improvement and biological activity, mulch with compost or composted manure. You will get an almost immediate effect. You can always bark over the top if you want a more long term appearance.

If the tree is healthy, it will grow normally, and the growth will be primarily upward, since that's what trees do. With healthy plants, a universal result of pruning is growth returned elsewhere. It is usually in the 50%+ range of the amount that has been removed. Naturally, because of the vast range of plant varieties and local conditions, there is no possible way to predict anyone's exact result. One must act on what is reasonable for the situation one has. One of my little trees with foliage to the ground, was 6' height at the beginning of last year. We had rain and I watered and fertilized it. At the end of the year is was 12' height. This spring, I removed EVERY SINGLE LIMB that existed the previous spring, leaving only what had grown during the latter part of last year. I was limbing it up to half its height in order to stimulate more growth on top, and to allow more light to reach the groundcover growing below it.

I'm sorry, but when you have pine trees, you just cannot fight mother nature. Pine straw IS the most natural looking mulch in such a situation and anything else is out of place.