How to spread sawdust?

[Aaron SEIA]

It takes a lot of nitrogen to break down sawdust. I don't see how it'd benefit soil.
AaronSEIA

 

[Steve in VA]

It takes a lot of nitrogen to break down sawdust. I don't see how it'd benefit soil.
AaronSEIA

If the soil has a high clay content then I can see a benefit, however, as you point out it comes at a cost.

 

[Fred Werring]

It takes a lot of nitrogen to break down sawdust. I don't see how it'd benefit soil.
AaronSEIA

Made the mistake of putting a bunch on my garden many years back.
1st year I didn't realize what was happening, my garden was so poor. Did some reading, found out why, but it was too late.
2nd year, applied heavy N, it was fine.
Back to normal by year 3, guess sawdust had decomposed by then.

 

[WESnIL]

Like any other plant based item, the sawdust will add organic matter to the soil. Low organic matter soils like sand or clay would benefit the most. The flip side is the amount of nitrogen required to break it down. I'd be inclined to stockpile it, let it compost, maybe add some nitrogen to aid in the decomposition, and then spread with a manure spreader.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Made the mistake of putting a bunch on my garden many years back.
1st year I didn't realize what was happening, my garden was so poor. Did some reading, found out why, but it was too late.
2nd year, applied heavy N, it was fine.
Back to normal by year 3, guess sawdust had decomposed by then.

Several years ago my BIL allowed the city to dump leaves in scattered piles in one of his fields. Around here that would be about 80% Maple and 20% every thing else. He spread the loads around with his tractor and loader and in the spring and tilled them in with a chisel plow. Next year virtually no corn grew where he spread the leaves and you could see the poor spots in his crops for several years after that

 

[jhwis]

Several years ago my BIL allowed the city to dump leaves in scattered piles in one of his fields. Around here that would be about 80% Maple and 20% every thing else. He spread the loads around with his tractor and loader and in the spring and tilled them in with a chisel plow. Next year virtually no corn grew where he spread the leaves and you could see the poor spots in his crops for several years after that

We used newspaper for bedding with the cows for decades. Also, used leaves from the cottonwoods in the yard as well. Soil was as productive as you'd find. Granted we'd add lime from the barn floor to reduce the acidity.

 

[showcrop]

Since your sawdust is pine you should notify with your local cooperative service extension office that you have sawdust available. They will pass your information on to those people who are looking for it. They can also advise you what to charge for it. There are a lot more small farms looking for sawdust than there are mills producing it. You can also check for a state market bulletin.

 

[JWA]

So I run a little sawmill, and have been collecting enormous amounts of sawdust, Daddy told me I ought to plow it under in the field help build up the soil.

What Would I spread it with? Manure spreader? also how thick would I spread it? Or should I spread it in rows?

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

I would think that a cyclone spreader would work just fine.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

So I run a little sawmill, and have been collecting enormous amounts of sawdust, Daddy told me I ought to plow it under in the field help build up the soil.

What Would I spread it with? Manure spreader? also how thick would I spread it? Or should I spread it in rows?

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

My friend used hardwood sawdust for his horses.
Some claim sawdust removes nitrogen from the soil to get the wood to breakdown.
I use his sawdust mixed with horse poo in my garden. I mix the sawdust/poo with my soil 50/50 and
My CPA friend calls my mixture radioactive dirt. His garden grows like crazy.
I would use a loader to spread out the sawdust and use a tiller, disk or plow.
There is a good chance you may be adding termite food to the soil.
So, I would keep your sawdust away from buildings.

I had a stump ground. About a month later the soil was crawling with termites.
It didn't take long and stump grindings were gone along with the termites.
I plant flowers in my radioactive mix and people ask what's my secret to growing flowers?

 

[caterpillar guy]

I would let it rot in a pile stirring it some as it rotted. Then spread adding some lime to it. Probably a bag or 2 to the load spread over the top of the load. This would help with the PH in the soil after spreading. Nitrogen could be plowed down or mixed in at tillage. Other wise most of it will disappear before it got worked in to the girt.

 

[Ray,IN]

I have been told some sawdust is poison for soil. Not sure if it's true.

Sawdust needs copious amounts of nitrogen to decompose, which in turn draws nitrogen out of soil and away from your grass or plants roots. it's best to leave it in a pile for a year or two, then spread.
A manure spreader will not work, as it will simpy fall out the back as the cross-bars drag it to the rear of the wagon
Source: https://growyouryard.com/is-sawdust-good-for-a-garden

 

[Roger in Iowa]

Been putting sawdust and planer chips on garden as mulch for several years without problems. Plow under in fall. Add nitrogen in spring.

 

[Bill in Colo]

I have a field that I used to to calve on in March and April, I hauled two or three hundred tons of pine sawdust forty plus years ago, just dump in piles. When the cows left ten years ago I pull a land plane across the the piles, best grass in field today. Acidity was not a problem we have alkaline soils.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

You could ask your extension agent. I have heard (as others here said) it was not good, and needed lots of nitrogen to break it down in the soil. Probably would need to rot first before spreading. Mark.

 

[wheat straw]

Troy built sold thousands of tillers calling them composting machines. They advocated covering your garden with fall leaves and tilling them in. By spring they were broken down and ready to grow your plants. Before i ever owned a troy built I hauled truck loads of any organic matter i could get my hands on. Uses oak and pine sawdust, leaves, grass clippings, rained on hay, and forked out many a horse stall. Just don't overdo the sawdust so it doesn't tie up all your nitro. If you use a lot of organic materials, I have found that you can get by with a generous amount of sawdust that continues breaking down over the years.

 

[Texgasser1]

I am amazed at the amount of replies I have received so far, I appreciate all the input. The majority seems to say that I would need to spread nitrogen on top of the sawdust to help break it down.

I do have red clay soil. How do I determine how much nitrogen I would need to spread?

 

[Texgasser1]

Since your sawdust is pine you should notify with your local cooperative service extension office that you have sawdust available. They will pass your information on to those people who are looking for it. They can also advise you what to charge for it. There are a lot more small farms looking for sawdust than there are mills producing it. You can also check for a state market bulletin.

Tried that, Like I said around here there is an over abundance of it. Can't give it away.

 

[flying belgian]

I am amazed at the amount of replies I have received so far, I appreciate all the input. The majority seems to say that I would need to spread nitrogen on top of the sawdust to help break it down.

I do have red clay soil. How do I determine how much nitrogen I would need to spread?

Google,,,How to add sawdust to garden soil,,, By the time you get done reading all the responses your sawdust will be rotted away.

 

[ss55]

So I run a little sawmill, and have been collecting enormous amounts of sawdust, Daddy told me I ought to plow it under in the field help build up the soil.

What Would I spread it with? Manure spreader? also how thick would I spread it? Or should I spread it in rows?

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

If the sawdust is dry a dry fertilizer spreader should work better than a manure spreader.

Some cities blend green grass clippings with leaves and chipped trees to make compost and other garden products. In summer this outfit ships three semi loads of finished product per day.

Homepage - Creekside Soil

www.creeksidesoils.com

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I am amazed at the amount of replies I have received so far, I appreciate all the input. The majority seems to say that I would need to spread nitrogen on top of the sawdust to help break it down.

I do have red clay soil. How do I determine how much nitrogen I would need to spread?

Do a soil test at your local extension office, and ask them. Mark.