Using Sawdust and Wood Shavings in Your Garden

Mulch is a material used to cover soil's surface. An agricultural practice such as mulching will help retain moisture in the soil, suppress or block weeds, keep the soil and plant roots cool, prevent frost heaving in winter, and make the garden bed and landscape look more attractive. Some types can also add nutrients to the soil.

Read on to learn about the different types of mulches and helpful information about the best types for your garden's needs.

Sawdust

Sawdust is one of the cheapest ground covering materials. Sawdust is one of the cheapest ground covering materials. Sawdust is made of wood chippings and is mainly composed of cellulose, and various extractives.

Pros and Cons:

Understanding the pros and cons of sawdust for covering beds is important before deciding whether it is the right choice.

Pros:

• Reducing the evaporation of water from the soil. A layer of loose substrate creates a powerful barrier against rapid moisture weathering.
• Increasing soil fertility. Over time, microorganisms transform the mulch into a neutral natural fertilizer. Beneficial bacteria and fungi also multiply intensively under organic litter. This also has the most favorable effect on the productivity of the land.
• Maintaining and improving soil breathability. The covered soil does not cake after rainfall and watering; the roots receive enough oxygen and are well protected from root rot. In addition, as sawdust mulch decomposes, the soil becomes crumblier and softer. In such an environment, it is easier for roots to obtain water, and plants develop better.
• Maintaining optimal temperature in the root zone. In the summer heat, wood material protects the earth from overheating. And in winters with little snow, it also prevents icing and death of sensitive sucking roots of perennials.
• Giving the area a neat, well-groomed appearance. Plantings mulched with sawdust are pleasing to the eye and create a general impression of being well-groomed.

Cons:

Covering beds with sawdust also has several disadvantages:

• Soil acidification. An unpleasant effect is observed when using fresh material and pine sawdust. I'll tell you why this happens a little later. Monitor the pH level.
• Nitrogen depletion: Sawdust can deplete the soil of nitrogen, which is needed for plant growth, especially for plant roots. This is more of a problem when sawdust is mixed directly into the soil, but it can still be an issue when used as mulch.
• Slow decomposition: Sawdust decomposes slowly.
• Compaction: Sawdust can compact, which can cause problems.

Types of Saw Dust

Understanding the different types of sawdust, such as Hardwood, Softwood, and Composites, is crucial for successful gardening. Each type, classified based on the species of tree from which the wood originates, has its unique properties. For instance, hardwood sawdust, made from deciduous trees like oak or maple, is ideal for certain plants, while softwood sawdust, from coniferous trees like pine or spruce, is better suited for others.

Based on the type of tree, sawdust is divided into two large categories - coniferous and deciduous. The shavings from cutting coniferous trees greatly acidify the soil on the site. Moreover, this is characteristic not only of fresh but also of half-rotted substrate. So, pine chips are used only for crops that thrive in acidic soil (with a pH of 5.5-6). Here are a few crops:

Potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, rhubarb, radishes, turnips, rosemary, tomatoes, pumpkin, sorrel, and spinach are among the vegetables grown. Fruit and berry plants include barberry, blueberry, Japanese quince, viburnum, honeysuckle, cranberry, and dogwood, as well as some flowers like lupine, peony, violet, and lily of the valley.

How to Use Wood Saw Dust in Your Garden?

Wood sawdust has several uses in your garden. It can be used as mulch, weed suppressant, and compost.

Mulch

Spread sawdust to a depth of 1–1.5 inches but avoid piling it around the base of trees and shrubs. You can mix one pound of nitrogen with every 50 pounds of dry sawdust to cover a 10 x 10-foot area. Sawdust can decompose quickly and compact, so you may need to replenish it annually.

Wood is found in small, medium, and large fractions. Fine sawing is unsuitable for mulching since, when wet, it sticks together into a single dense mass and prevents air from penetrating the soil. Semi-rotted or rotted medium-sized wood shavings from deciduous trees are suitable for mulching crops.

It is also better to avoid taking large chips for this purpose. They rot slowly and do not create a high-quality barrier to weed growth. However, they are convenient for covering paths between plots or insulating garden trees for the winter.

Medium-sized sawdust does not have all these disadvantages and is well-suited for mulching crops.

Weed Suppressant

Sawdust can be used as a weed suppressant along garden paths and other areas that are prone to weeds. To enhance its effectiveness, consider adding a layer of cardboard or newspaper underneath the sawdust to help retain moisture.

Compost

You can compost sawdust with green (grass clippings or chopped leaves) and brown (earthworm castings) organic matter. Water the pile weekly and turn it monthly to help it break down evenly. After a few months, the pile should break down into a soil-like consistency. To compost, lay out the following in a compost pit or heap in layers:

• 10-15 centimeters of small or medium wood chips.
• 1-2 centimeters of manure, droppings, freshly cut grass, and kitchen waste.
• 1-2 centimeters of soil or compost (for starter).
• A little wood ash, slaked lime, dolomite flour, eggshells (to normalize acidity).

Final Thoughts

There are several advantages to using sawdust in your garden, from mulching to composting. Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages, you decide if it's right for your garden. Sawdust is great for raspberries, strawberries, garlic, cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, and greenhouse vegetables. For more helpful information, check out DripWorks.

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