Shopsmith Forums

It's about time for me to empty my rather large first bag of sawdust. Other than throwing it in the trash, does anyone use if for other purposes - mixing it in a litter box, garden uses, compost bin, or something else?

Mix with leftover candle wax, scoop into mini-sized cupcake papers, and presto - firestarters! Great for camping or an outdoor fire pit.

- Chris

Whatever you do, don't throw it in the garden for mulch. Made that mistake the first time. It turns into mush the first time it gets wet. You will end up shoveling it back out.

You can use it in a compost pile but only a little bit at a time.

Some people with horse can use it, but not if it contains walnut or any metal or other contaminants.

You can also use it to soak up oil spills when changing the car oil or other liquid spills.

Was talking to my mulch supplier at work the other day. Said sawdust is going for big $$$ right now. He did not say why.

Another use for it would be to place it around your temperature sensitive plants during frosts. Leave it in place and it should get to a condition that you won't even have to remove it.

Tim, you probably have yard waste service available. If nothing elso, you can put it there.

I find that the stuff doesn't decompose very rapidly. I put a bag of mostly white pine sawdust in a pile outside two years ago and it looks the same as when I put it out. I will probably have to shovel it up and get rid of it

I now tie up the plastic DC3300 bag full of sawdust and take it to the transfer station.

Hi,

Lots of good uses mentioned but if you want to go the compost route you will need a bit more information. Rather then tell you what I do I'll let you decide what is best by searching:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=co ... gle+Search

Ed

Good Post - ED! I took the liberty of copying a portion of one of the sites you pointed us to. The highlighting is mine.

"... Ruth, who does not identify her location or climate, writes:

I have about 200 lbs of wood sawdust. I live in the country and have compost piles going. What will happen if I use the sawdust in these piles?

Robert F. Gabella replies:

A compost pile is an excellent place to deposit sawdust - the microbial action which would for a time tie up valuable nitrogen (and even create possible nutrient deficiencies) if the raw sawdust was used as mulch or incorporated into the soil around plant materials, actually serves to break down the sawdust. This turns it into a more nutrient-worthy product in the long run, and a valuable component in any organic soil mix . Thoroughly incorporate the sawdust evenly into any other raw material you are adding, if possible.

Folks in milder, long-season climates generally have an easier time with composting - far Northern gardeners need a bigger "trick bag." Some gardeners find that structured composting systems and content-specific compost activators are extremely beneficial, and regular turning or tumbling are always advised..."