It does not matter what kind of wood your sawdust is from. Sawdust from all types of trees, soft or hard, can be usedinyourcompostpile. The one thing to be mindful of is if you will be compostingsawdust from chemically treated wood. Understanding SawdustinComposting. Sawdust, a byproduct of woodworking, can be an excellent addition to compostpiles due to its high carbon content. Generally, sawdust has a C:N ratio ranging from about 200:1 to 500:1 or even higher. Building Your SawdustCompostPile: A Step-by-Step System. Foundation and Structure. The Critical First Month: Setting Up for Success. Reading Your Pile: Signs of Success and Failure. Species-Specific Considerations: Not All Wood Is Equal. 2. Usingsawdustinyourcompostpile. Composting always comes with questions – and common composting mistakes. What foods can you toss on the pile? Is there anything you should avoid mixing in? Does it need to be turned? As an example, if you have around 8 liters (2.1 US gal) of sawdust, you will want to add it to yourcompostpile along with about 2 liters (0.5 US gal) of nitrogen-rich material. An easy way to quickly gather nitrogen-rich material is to cut your lawn and use the clippings. Although sawdust can be used as animal bedding, it can also be used as an ingredient in making compost. So, how do you compostsawdust? To compostsawdust, add plenty of nitrogen-rich material (or “greens”, such as grass clippings) to yourcompostpile. Sawdust makes a great “brown material” in composting. It balances out the “greens” like kitchen scraps or grass clippings. You’ll want to build your pile in layers—green, brown, green, brown—keeping it moist and turning it now and then. Sawdust also acts as a bulking agent, allowing air into the pile. It takes approximately a year to transform raw sawdust into finished compost.The best sawdust for garden use has a slightly course texture - the type created as a byproduct of sawmills or chain saws. Sawdust from all types of trees, be they soft or hard, can be usedinyourcompostpile. For composting purposes, sawdust is considered a “brown” composting material. It is therefore used to add carbon to the mix as well as to balance the nitrogen from the “green” composting... The compostpile is one place where sawdust really shines. It can (and should) be used in high quantities, so it helps to build volume—more beautiful compost for your yard and garden! This fluffy bulk also creates a lot of air space inyourcompost that allows oxygen to do its work. Start a compostpile in an area at least 10 feet by 7 feet and plan for 2 or 3 additional hours to turn the pile. Can sawdust/shavings be used as the primary browns ingredient in the compost? What ratio of green matter do you actually need to add? Composting. Sawdust is an excellent addition to yourcompostpile. As a carbon-rich material, it balances the nitrogen from green waste like kitchen scraps and grass clippings. Sawdust is an excellent input for compostpiles. Sawdust from any hard or soft wood tree provides a valuable source of carbon into the compostpile. When usingsawdust, treat it as you would dry leaves inyour ratio of browns. Sadly, the important word above is eventually. To get the most out of usingsawdust as a compost, you’re in for 1-2 years of waiting. The reason for that is it needs time to break down naturally, our advice would be pile it up (away from your grass) and let it sit. · Incorporatingsawdustintoyourcompostbin requires some careful consideration to ensure an effective balance between browns and greens. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it: Collect your sawdust from the appropriate sources—preferably untreated softwood or hardwood. · Yes, you can use sawdust in your hot compost pile, but it’s essential to balance it with nitrogen-rich materials and maintain the right moisture content. Sawdust can help speed up the decomposition process and create a hot, steamy environment that’s ideal for killing pathogens and weed seeds. · To use sawdust in your compost pile, sprinkle it in thin layers between your other composting materials, such as food scraps and yard waste. You can also mix sawdust with other carbon-rich materials like leaves or straw to create a balanced compost pile.
