Sawdust as mulch???

velikipop · March 12, 2007

I received a couple of large bags of sawdust that originated at a local high school's woodworking shop. I intend to use some for my blueberries and wonder if I can use the rest as a mulch for my tomatoes and peppers. I am concerned that it might affect the soil Ph level.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Alex

felpec · March 12, 2007

Make sure you know what kinds of wood produced the sawdust. (We used to own a cabinet shop, so I used a LOT of sawdust in the garden.) I would never use the sawdust from particleboard or treated wood. And definitely, NO walnut. However, this coming from a high school, I doubt they're using walnut.

It will make your soil more acidic as well. The blueberries should love it - don't think the tomatoes and peppers will. Also, it compacts, so you do have to "fluff it up" so the water doesn't run off. It also depletes the nitrogen, so a bit of extra N is needed.

Hope this helps!

dirtdigging101 · March 12, 2007

i mulch with sawdust from a sawmill all the time, popular, pine and oak only is what they cut

my paths get 3 or 4 inches every year and the plants get about 3 inches
i check soil ph all the time and it stays pretty constant. at the end of the growing year i put down about 2 inches of hourse manure that is well rotted and till it in but the most important thing is to be sure of the source, if not sure do not ues
imho

Worth1 · March 12, 2007

I agree, most of the stuff that comes from a cabinet shop is from particle board and plywood the glues they use to make this stuff has formaldehyde in it and other nasty stuff.
I have lived next to a saw mill and have worked in a wood shop and I have used wood chips and saw dust.
But not from plywood
I ran the door and hard wood dept that's where I got mine from.
I have also worked where they make the glue for this stuff, (NOT GOOD STUFF)
Just ask about what it came from first.

Worth

velikipop · March 12, 2007

Thank you all for the advice. I think I'll play it safe, since I don't know what the source of the sawdust is, and just use it on the berries and put the rest down on the paths to keep the weeds down.

Alex

dcarch · March 12, 2007

I do some woodworking. The sawdust I have collected has all kind of wood particles in it. I don't want to use it for my soil since I have lots of composted leaves. So I am putting all the sawdust in a shaded corner and will try to grow some mushrooms this coming year.

dcarch

March 12, 2007	#1
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	Sawdust as mulch??? I received a couple of large bags of sawdust that originated at a local high school's woodworking shop. I intend to use some for my blueberries and wonder if I can use the rest as a mulch for my tomatoes and peppers. I am concerned that it might affect the soil Ph level. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Alex __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

March 12, 2007	#5
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	Thank you all for the advice. I think I'll play it safe, since I don't know what the source of the sawdust is, and just use it on the berries and put the rest down on the paths to keep the weeds down. Alex __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

March 12, 2007	#6
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	I do some woodworking. The sawdust I have collected has all kind of wood particles in it. I don't want to use it for my soil since I have lots of composted leaves. So I am putting all the sawdust in a shaded corner and will try to grow some mushrooms this coming year. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

March 12, 2007	#2
felpec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Zone 5/6 New Jersey Posts: 122	Make sure you know what kinds of wood produced the sawdust. (We used to own a cabinet shop, so I used a LOT of sawdust in the garden.) I would never use the sawdust from particleboard or treated wood. And definitely, NO walnut. However, this coming from a high school, I doubt they're using walnut. It will make your soil more acidic as well. The blueberries should love it - don't think the tomatoes and peppers will. Also, it compacts, so you do have to "fluff it up" so the water doesn't run off. It also depletes the nitrogen, so a bit of extra N is needed. Hope this helps!

March 12, 2007	#3
dirtdigging101 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 67	i mulch with sawdust from a sawmill all the time, popular, pine and oak only is what they cut my paths get 3 or 4 inches every year and the plants get about 3 inches i check soil ph all the time and it stays pretty constant. at the end of the growing year i put down about 2 inches of hourse manure that is well rotted and till it in but the most important thing is to be sure of the source, if not sure do not ues imho

March 12, 2007	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I agree, most of the stuff that comes from a cabinet shop is from particle board and plywood the glues they use to make this stuff has formaldehyde in it and other nasty stuff. I have lived next to a saw mill and have worked in a wood shop and I have used wood chips and saw dust. But not from plywood I ran the door and hard wood dept that's where I got mine from. I have also worked where they make the glue for this stuff, (NOT GOOD STUFF) Just ask about what it came from first. Worth