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Sawdust

InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
in Problem solving
There is a wood treatment plant near where we live. They produce a huge amount of waste. They assure me 90% of it is bark. Is it safe just to spread it over the garden or do I have to  compost it? Most of the waste is from coniferous forest.
Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.

Posts

  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    Can you tell us a bit more about what you're wanting to achieve by spreading it?

  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Is it treated sawdust or untreated ? Treated wouldn't be something I'd spread about. I'd compost it simply to give a less blonde colour but then im quite obsessed with composting so I would probably compost compost (yes I know I'm wierd). 
  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    Sorry, I thought I'd made it clear it is not wood, it is bark dust with a few larger pieces. Bark is good as a mulch/ fertilizer, isn't it?
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    I'd use it as a mulch, probably more in the late spring or summer, ideally after rain, probably on an ornamental bed, or round fruit trees or bushes to keep moisture in and weeds supressed. It's certainly not a fertiliser - you won't see weeds growing in fresh sawdust, which tells you that it's not a growing medium. It will eventually break down and be incoorporated into the soil, but that's a long slow process. 
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    I'd go carefully how deep you lay it, sawdust tends to easily cap and form a layer preventing moisture getting through it 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Bark chips are fine but I wouldn't use dust. Compost it with lots of other stuff and spread that around.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree with @Wilderbeast. In dry conditions it would just blow away, and if it was being laid on a wet day, then it would become a solid layer. 
    Best mixed in as @Posy says. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fairygirl said:
    I agree with @Wilderbeast. In dry conditions it would just blow away, and if it was being laid on a wet day, then it would become a solid layer. 
    Best mixed in as @Posy says. 
    Totally agree ... I've seen wood dust etc become an impermeable layer on top of the soil.  Not good.  Compost it and mix it in. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    Thanks guys.  Very smart advice, as usual. I will give it a miss.
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
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