Topic: Sawdust

[Doris_Pinks]

Can I put it on my compost? Had a load of logs chainsawed, and have a huge pile of the lovely stuff! I presume it will be too raw to put straight on a vegey bed, and can't bear to throw it away! DP

[Hugh_Jones]

Depends on how long you want to wait for your compost.  Sawdust from chainsaws is fairly coarse - more like fine chippings - and hard, and the breakdown action is more fungal than bacterial.  It will probably take a year or more to break down properly, depending on the type of wood.  If you use a shredder, put the sawdust with the shreddings, or failing that mix it with your leaves.

However, if you do want to compost it more quickly, it is best mixed with fresh grass mowings when the increased heat and moisture speed up the fungal processes.

[rdak]

started my compost bin with a couple of inches of sawdust. 6 months later all gone, but I did add a lot of manure.

[Hugh_Jones]

Same effect as the grass mowings, ross. However, sawdust obviously varies considerably in texture, and that from a circular saw (even timberyard size) or jig or handsaw  is very much finer and softer than that from a chainsaw, and will rot down much more quickly.

[Doris_Pinks]

Thanks Hugh and Rdak! Think I will give it a miss and put it in the council recycle bin instead! DP