Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
Jerome Laux
>I have been using by shavings and sawdust as mulch and composting media. I suppose this is fine as I have been working with ash, oak, maple and cherry. Any shavings or sawdust I shouldn't use?
Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
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Re: Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
#2Re: Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
Doug Trembath
>The general consensus is that other than Walnut, shavings are good for the soil. Small amounts of Walnut can be added to other types, but a steady diet of them can be bad for many plants. Also remember that wood will suck the Nitrogen out of the soil as it decomposes, so adding copious amounts of green stuff, like lawn clippings, will help replenish it. Add some fertilizer as well if you turn it under for the garden.
Doug Trembath
Studio in the Woods
Re: Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
#3Walnut is actually...
BubbaBob
>...OK to use when TOTALLY composted, but, as noted above, don't use it as mulch.
BubbaBob
Re: Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
#4Re: Walnut is actually...
Ruth
>I made a stone path through my garden, used all the walnut chips/shavings under the stones and it's now compressed and hard, NO weeds, looks great, too.
Re: Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
#5
Re: How About Butternut ?
Brad Vietje
>Since Butternut seems to share some of the same features as Walnut, is it also a problem ? I know there's a lot of tannin, and pretty caustic gooey inner bark... any problems with Butternut ?
Safe Spinning (and mulching),
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT
Re: Sort of OT: Shavings and sawdust
#6Re: How About Butternut ?
Ruth
>Brad, for some reason butternut isn't as toxic to other plants like the walnut. Of course, I get a lot more black walnut than the other species and that's the most offensive in a garden. As already mentioned, these shavings are usually mixed with other woods so I can't see where butternut would be a problem.