We bought a new-to-us house last fall and I am now enjoying the joys of owning five old and large Douglas Firs. While they are beautiful, they do make a huge mess. My quandry now is if I should mulch and if so with what. I am afraid of putting down bark, or yard debris mulch (as that is the most common mulch used here in Oregon) simply because it will quickly become covered with pine needles and other debris from these trees.

I would however, like to clean things up a bit and make it look a little neater and mulch does this. Any ideas? My yard is rather formal simply because the hardscaping and neighborhood sort of dictates this. I have a lot of brick walls and stairs, etc.

Thanks in advance.