Fertilizer is not only chemicals synthesized on purpose. To feed the soil when growing crops, waste from various industries can be used.

It can also be sawdust - as a fertilizer, they can be used both in the greenhouse and in the fields. This option is a simple and cheap recharge for the soil.

1 How do wood chips affect the soil?

D Wood shavings are a natural organic material, in which useful elements still remain even in the form of sawdust. Rotting, they release carbon, which has a beneficial effect on the microflora.

Mixed with the soil, sawdust makes it looser and lighter, improves air permeability, and at the same time does not retain moisture. As a result, the soil becomes more like. It will be easier to develop the root system of crops in it.

First of all, it is useful for such areas:

"tired" lands that were actively used for growing any crops (even if the cultivation was carried out according to all the rules, with);

soils with poor fertility.

The soil after adding chips is less prone to drying out, and in dry weather a crust does not form on its surface.

1.1 Pros and cons of application

Such a fertilizer material has the following advantages:

cheapness and ease of obtaining (sawdust can beliterally for a penny to buy in any woodworking shop,or even pick up for free if you need a small quantity);

P growth of application;

improving the condition of poor soil, simplifying the development of the root system;

soil loosening.

There are also cons:

"fresh" oxide sawdust t soil, so apply them necessary in moderation, only after preliminary preparation (about preparation - below);

shavings are not the "main" fertilizer - it is only an auxiliary material for the soil.

1.2 Using sawdust in the garden (video)

1.3 For which crops can it be used?

Sawdust composition can be used for any type of planting:

"garden" crops, from potatoes to strawberries;

trees (fruit, berry);

• agricultural crops grown in the fields.

Use this fertilizer can be both outdoors (in the garden, on the field, in the garden), and in greenhouses and greenhouses.

In the fields, this method of fertilization is practically not used, and if it is used, then infrequently, rather as an exception. Crops grown in large volumes are usually fertilized with specialized preparations. And sawdust is rather one of the folk remedies, from the "arsenal" of amateur gardeners.

2 Which sawdust is suitable for fertilizer?

Before using fertilizer from sawdust, it is worth remembering the basic rules:

Pine shavings - not suitable. Pine (and other coniferous trees) contains resin, which slows down the decomposition of wood. So - all the benefits of the application will come to naught.

"Fresh" sawdust should be used with the utmost care (so as not to overdo it with the amount), and separately - it is better not to use it at all. The reason is that fresh wood will oxidize the soil.

The decomposition of wood in the ground contributes to the fact that the amount of nitrogen in it will decrease. Therefore, crops that will grow on it may be deficient in this element.

If the shavings were stored near / under weeds, they can only be used as fertilizer after hot composting. To do this, pour sawdust with hot water (hot 60 degrees), quickly cover with polyethylene and leave for several days.

The conclusion can be drawn as follows - for safe use, they are suitable:

Sawdust from non-coniferous trees.

Overripe shavings (which lay in the fresh air for as long as possible, ideally at least a year). Its color will be darker than fresh. The darker - the better (that is, the longer they rot - the better).

Mixing with other types of fertilizers.

2.1 What can I mix with?

It was mentioned above that sawdust is best used by applying it along with something else to make a mixture. "Recipes" can be:

1. 2.2 Use as mulching material

   P use sawdust can be used as mulch- This is true for any plants in the garden.

   This is done at the beginning of summer (no later than June). The entire land (on which the crops will grow) is covered with a layer of sawdust, 2-3 cm thick. This preparation will prevent the appearance of weeds, make the earth looser, and help retain moisture in the soil.

   

   After harvesting, the soil needs to be dug up. At the same time, the sawdust will mix with the soil, and next year it will already turn into fertilizer for the next plantings.To neutralize the oxidation of the soil (from the “clean” wood chips in it), it is recommended to sprinkle it with lime flour.

   FROM too much sawdust for mulching should not be used. At the end of the season, after digging up the site, they should not remain on the surface. Otherwise, next spring they will only be a hindrance: they will prevent the soil from freezing.

   FROM The preparation process looks like this:

   A plastic film is laid on the ground.

   3 buckets of sawdust are poured out.

   200 grams of urea is mixed with chips.

   The mixture is moistened with 10 liters of water.

   The process is repeated until the desired amount of fertilizer is obtained.

   The mixture is covered with a film, the tighter - the better.

   Fertilizer will be ready in 10-14 days.

   2.3 Application in greenhouses/greenhouses

   P When preparing soil for greenhouses / hotbeds, it is important to use shavings so that the soil keeps the temperature more stable.

   It should be mixed with finely chopped leaves and grass. Moreover, if the manure is taken fresh, then the sawdust must be fresh. And vice versa: if the manure is rotted, the sawdust should also be taken already rotted.

   2.4 About the benefits and rules of use (video)

   
   

   2.5 Application on the beds

   And using sawdust as a fertilizer, maximum efficiency can be achieved when growing strawberries (strawberries)and potatoes. They will also be useful in vegetable gardens located in the lowlands.

   To protect planting from drought and weeds, shavings can be used not directly under the plant, but nearby. To do this, furrows are dug along the beds (25 cm deep), into which sawdust is poured. They will play the role of a kind of barrier that will not allow weeds to enter the plant and will not release water. Having rotted, wood shavings will give useful elements to the soil, after a year or two after instillation, they will also turn into fertilizer.

   It is most effective to use sawdust in the beds in the following way:

   The top layer of soil is removed.

   A mixture of urea and chips is placed in the hole (as mentioned above: 200 grams of urea per 3 buckets of chips).

   Cut grass/hay is placed on top.

   The furrow is buried.

   

   Advantages:

   • the weed disappears;
   • soil moisture is maintained;
   • insect protection;
   • the soil remains loose;

   

   Mulching

   High warm beds

   

   Mulch for strawberries

   Sawdust in a greenhouse and greenhouse

   

   • sufficient moisture.

   Sawdust and plant insulation

   

   DIY fertilizer

   1. What sawdust to use
   2. Several fertilizer recipes
   3. Recipe 1: wood and ash
   4. Fertilizer from fresh sawdust
   5. Strawberries and wild strawberries
   6. How to cover roses
   7. Sawdust for seedlings

   Advantages of sawdust:

   Harm of wood waste:

   • Fresh sawdust oxidizes the soil.

   What sawdust to use

   Several fertilizer recipes

   Recipe 1: wood and ash

   Lay down:

   • Wood sawdust - 200 kg;
   • Water - 50 liters;
   • Wood waste - 200 kg;
   • Cow dung - 50 kg;

   Fertilizer from fresh sawdust

   1. Ammonium nitrate - 40 g;
   2. Calcium chloride - 10 g.

   Strawberries and wild strawberries

   How to cover roses

   Sawdust for seedlings

   Read the content of the article!

   Sawdust for the garden: the use, benefits and harms of sawdust. There is still no consensus on the use of sawdust in a private plot. For novice gardeners, this technology is of great interest. Experienced gardeners refuse sawdust because of the negative experience of use. In fact, wood chips have a number of positive properties that can provide a good result. However, it should be applied with a certain degree of caution, following certain rules.

   With the help of sawdust, the fertile layer of the earth becomes more loose and airy. Such soils do not form a crust that is harmful to plants, which makes it possible to reduce the amount of loosening. Sawdust can also be used as a fertilizer. As a result of proper preparation of the material, high-quality humus will be formed, which is similar to more expensive manure. In winter, mulch from wood shavings protects the roots of plants from freezing, in the summer, it allows you to keep moisture in the soil.

   It is interesting! Useful properties of sawdust appear only in combination with fertilizers or after 10 years of being in a compost heap.

   During this period, bacteria appear on the surface of the wood chips, which saturate the wood with minerals. In its pure form, sawdust is used to fill the tracks. This allows you to reduce the risk of the spread of weeds and gives accuracy to the entire site.

   The negative consequences of using wood waste include:

   • Increasing the acidity of the soil;
   • Yield reduction due to nitrogen leaching.

   You can find out the acidity of the earth on the site with the help of tests with litter papers, which are purchased in specialized garden shops.

   To neutralize the effect of acid, sawdust is mixed with alkali-containing substances:

   • dolomite flour;
   • crushed chalk;
   • lime or lime-oxidant;
   • wood or peat ash.

   Fertilizers are also used for these purposes, such as superphosphate, potassium chloride, sodium or calcium nitrate, potassium sulfate.

   When using alkalis, you should follow some rules. For example, fertilizers are added to a mixture of lime and dolomite flour, which include boron and manganese in their composition. A solution of calcium nitrate (urea) helps prevent a lack of nitrogen.

   Options for using sawdust in the garden

   Milling

   Wood chips are often used as a base for mulching. This operation is carried out at the beginning of summer, when moisture is actively evaporated. As a material, a rotted sawdust is chosen. If this is not observed, use a fresh haircut. Before the procedure, it undergoes special processing.

   Method for preparing mulch from fresh sawdust

   It will take 3 buckets of wood waste, 10 liters of water and 200 grams of urea. The shavings are laid out on a plastic film, fertilizer is added and evenly watered. Then the procedures are repeated. The construction is covered with polyethylene and left for 14 days, crushing it with stones. Sawdust is usually laid in the passages between the beds, mixing with ash. At the end of the summer season, wood waste is dug up together with the ground.

   Carrots, garlic, onions, beets, turnips need a protective powder with sawdust. The procedures are carried out after the dive, when the landings have reached a height of 5–7 cm. Vegetable crops grow in a thin layer of a few centimeters. Cucumber bushes are best sprinkled with substrate along the perimeter around the stem.
   Sawdust will look especially good in raspberries and under strawberry and strawberry bushes. The fruits as a result of mulching will be clean, not rotten. In addition, such processing will help perennials survive the winter. Sprinkling under the bushes is done when the seedlings have already taken root and gained a height of more than 7 cm.

   Video: sawdust for a large harvest

   To achieve the maximum effect, experts recommend combining chips from different types of trees. Most crops are suitable for waste of deciduous trees, with the exception of oak. For lovers of "sour environment" - tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, as well as strawberries - you should pick up sawdust of coniferous species. This haircut practically does not tolerate pathogenic microbes, which eliminates the risk of infection of plants.

   It will have an excellent effect on the state of the soil and pre-winter mulching. The use of sawdust in autumn is slightly different from the spring procedure. During this period, it is necessary to mix the shavings with compost and peat, only after that spread on the beds. In the spring, it remains to carry out shallow digging or simply loosen the soil with harrows.

   fertilizer

   Expensive manure will become more accessible if you mix it with sawdust. For a cubic meter of wood chips, 10 kg of bird droppings and 100 kg of cow manure will be required. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the overturned shavings are connected only with overturned manure, fresh - with fresh. This improves the quality of the compost. Instead of manure, you can use mullein, urea, or a solution of bird droppings.

   Fertilizer is prepared throughout the year from the beginning of summer. Before laying a compost heap, sawdust is moistened with water or slurry. Ordinary earth will not be superfluous here (at the rate of 2 - 3 buckets per cubic meter of sawdust). As needed, the compost is poured with water, grass, hay, kitchen waste are added to it. The top pile is covered with polyethylene, leaving small pores for heat exchange and ventilation.

   Here are a few recipes for such fertilizers.

   Wood and ash:

   • 200 kg sawdust;
   • 50 l of water;
   • 10 kg of ash;
   • urea, saturated with nitrogen (up to 47%) 2.5 kg per pile;
   • up to 100 kg of food waste, grass.

   Grass and shavings are laid in layers, ash is added and a pile of urea dissolved in water is poured. The compost is covered with polyethylene organics (on soils poor in microelements):

   • 200 kg haircut;
   • 100 kg of freshly cut grass;
   • 50 kg of cow manure;
   • 30 kg of organic waste;
   • Humates (1 drop per 100 liters of water).
   • a bucket of wood chips;
   • 40 grams of ammonium nitrate;
   • 30 grams of granulated superphosphate;
   • a glass of slaked lime;
   • 10 grams of calcium chloride.

   The substrate is infused for two weeks. Then, when digging, the beds are added to the soil. Fertilize the soil in the amount of 2 - 3 buckets per 1 square meter of land. This procedure contributes to the natural loosening of the soil.

   If sawdust was stored near abandoned forest areas, they should also be pre-composted. In order for the heap to warm up to at least 60 degrees of heat, it is poured with hot water and covered with polyethylene. This temperature allows you to destroy the seeds of weeds.

   Growing seeds in wood shavings

   Sawdust serves as a favorable environment for growing rascada. This method is used only when nutrients are present in the seed. If the plant is not transferred to the ground in time, it will die.

   For seed germination, only overripe sawdust from deciduous trees is used. The moistened shavings are poured into a container in a thin layer, after which the planting material is laid out on them. Then they add fertilizer to the tank and sprinkle it with another layer of wood chips. The container is placed in an open plastic bag and hidden in a warm place. After the emergence of seedlings, the seedling is transferred to a cooler place, the film is removed and sawdust is sprinkled with a layer of earth of about 0.5 cm. With the appearance of the first leaf, the plants are planted in the ground in a separate pot. Any seeds are grown in this way.

   Early potatoes early

   Wood chips are also used to prepare seed potatoes. Two weeks before the tubers are planted in the ground, the box is filled with a 10-centimeter layer of sawdust moistened with water. On top of the sprouts, the popped potato tubers (early varieties) are laid up.

   After this, the seed material is sprinkled with another layer of sawdust (2–3 cm). The entire period of preparing potatoes is very important to maintain the moisture content of sawdust and the temperature is not higher than 20 degrees. When the height of the shoots reaches 6–8 cm, the tubers are watered with a solution of fertilizers, planted in holes and completely covered with earth. Above the plot is covered with straw or hay; in case of frost - with polyethylene.

   How to insulate plants with wood chips

   The simplest method is when sawdust is filled with plastic bags, and then they cover the root system of plants with sawdust. Garlic tolerates cold well under damp coniferous sawdust - they provide heat, but also protect crops from diseases and pests.

   As a more reliable option, experienced gardeners choose a wooden box without a bottom. It is placed above the plant, covered with sawdust and covered with a film. On top of the box, you can sprinkle with a layer of earth. Plants such as roses, clematis and grapes are left to winter in the place of growth. For protection, the shoots are bent to the ground and covered with a layer of sawdust. It is better to cover the plants with a shaving in late autumn, then the risk of rodents appearing in it will be significantly lower.

   A thick layer of wood waste at the bottom of the landing pit will help provide the root system with thermal insulation.

   Use of sawdust in closed ground

   In greenhouses and greenhouses, sawdust acts as a biofuel. They can be combined with both manure and decayed plants. As a result of such a joint effect, the soil warms up faster, and the plantings absorb useful substances better. In addition, the speed of their pereppevaniya increases, and the compost turns out to be more airy and nutritious. It is possible to introduce wood shavings into the soil of a greenhouse both in autumn and in spring. In the presence of fresh organic matter, fresh sawdust is used, otherwise, only overripe waste.

   In autumn, it makes sense to cover the ridges with a layer of straw or cut grass, and at the beginning of spring work, add fresh manure and fresh sawdust mixed with lime. Then plant waste is added to the resulting mass. The soil is covered with straw and a layer of earth with spiced ash and mineral fertilizers. In order for the soil to warm up, the ridges are poured with boiling water or covered with an airtight film.

   Formation of high beds

   With the help of the overturned sawdust, it is possible to increase the height of the ridge. For this, large trenches with a depth of up to 25 cm are dug around the proposed place of its placement. The bottom of the pit is covered with the remains of straw and covered with a mixture of sawdust, alkali and urea. A layer of leaves is laid on top, and then covered with the previously deposited earth.

   So that the earth does not crumble along the edges, a barrier is built around it from cut grass, straw or layers of turf (it must be laid with its roots outside). The sides of the ridge are covered with a film to reduce evaporation. The remaining shavings are distributed between the beds. In the future, it is used to fertilize plants. Cucumber, squash and pumpkin seedlings and young plants actively grow on the formed multilayer ridges.

   Other applications sawdust

   From juniper sawdust you can prepare a fragrance for the cabinet.

   Small waste woodworking absorbs water well, therefore, suitable for storing vegetables in the cellar.

   With the help of wood shavings, it is easy to insulate the attic floor or the floors of the first floor. For this, the material is mixed with lime and cement, and then water is added. Instead of cement, crushed clay is often used. Only before performing construction work, stones should be removed from it. Any operations with mortars containing small wood chips require preliminary laying of waterproofing. This is due to the fact that sawdust absorbs moisture well.

   Video: the use of sawdust in other areas

   High-quality fuel is obtained from the shavings. For pressing briquettes at home, a manual machine is used, equipped with a form for filling wood chips. The finished product is dried on the street. Such briquettes are inferior to factory products in terms of heat transfer, since they have a small density due to low pressure during pressing. However, this method of obtaining economical fuel has found wide application among owners with large stocks of wood shavings.

   Sawdust can also be used as bedding for pets. In this case, the haircut performs two functions:

   1. heater;
   2. hygiene products (absorb slurry, waste).

   Fruit tree waste contains less resin. It is advisable to dry the pine wood chips first. But from nut sawdust in horses, inflammation of the hooves can occur.

   If it is necessary to make the earth loose, use sawdust for the garden, the benefits and harms of which have been studied by experienced gardeners. But it is not recommended to use fresh sawdust. First they need to be prepared. To do this, urea or mullein infusion is added to wood chips, covered with polyethylene, and then stirred from time to time to speed up the process of overheating.

   After a couple of weeks, the shavings are ready to be used as fertilizer. Much has been written in the reviews about the benefits or dangers of sawdust in the garden. Experienced summer residents claim that they take nitrogen from the soil, and therefore from plants. They say that you should not use fresh sawdust in the garden, as the plantings will begin to wither.

   The benefits of sawdust in the garden

   Plants need loose soil to thrive. The addition of rotted sawdust makes the earth a favorable environment for planting garden plants, the roots of which receive a sufficient amount of moisture and oxygen. The use of sawdust allows you to get rid of the crust in the dry season.

   They contain a large amount of fiber, essential oils and active substances. The material is successfully used to eliminate soil moisture. To do this, ditches are dug in the aisle and sawdust mixed with lime is poured. Their regular use improves the composition of the soil, reduces the number of weeds, and increases productivity.

   What is their secret and how do they work?

   They form a natural ecosystem for plants in the garden. It is important to use sawdust that has not been chemically treated or contaminated. Otherwise, they will become a real poison for horticultural crops. If rotted sawdust is used as mulch at the beginning of summer, then by the end of the season, as a result of loosening and the activity of earthworms, they will mix with the soil.

   A thick layer of sawdust spread over the surface of the earth during the rainy season prevents moisture from evaporating from the soil surface. This negatively affects the state of fruit and berry crops.

   Basic rules for the use of sawdust

   Wood shavings are great for mulching the soil. They are sprinkled with a thick layer after planting seedlings.

   Advantages:

   • the weed disappears;
   • soil moisture is maintained;
   • insect protection;
   • the soil remains loose;
   • favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria.

   Mulching

   Do you need sawdust for the garden in the fall? Everyone is trying to figure out their benefits and harms. As a rule, the soil is mulched for the winter. To do this, fresh sawdust is mixed with peat or manure and scattered on the beds. During the winter, the wood decomposes and becomes a nutritious substance. In the spring they dig or loosen the soil.

   High warm beds

   The benefits and harms of sawdust for the garden should be studied by every summer resident. How to make multilayer high beds in the bottom of the plot? For such purposes, it is convenient to use sawdust. The top layer of fertile soil is removed. They build a side, cover it with a film to preserve moisture in the garden. A trench is formed and filled with straw, hay or grass. Further, sawdust soaked in urea is placed on top of this, then a layer of organic residues is placed and everything is completed with a fertile layer of earth.

   Mulch for strawberries

   Do coniferous sawdust in the garden bring benefit or harm? Sawdust, used as mulch under strawberry bushes, protects them from contact with the soil. Thanks to them, the berries are protected from the effects of gray rot. For this purpose, fresh coniferous shavings treated with urea are used. Mulch is applied in the fall to protect the strawberries from freezing and create a barrier to many weeds. Weevil is repelled by pine sawdust in the garden, the benefits or harms of which are learned by practical experience.

   Sawdust in a greenhouse and greenhouse

   Sawdust is a useful fertilizer for soil in a greenhouse. They are sprinkled with plant residues and manure, which warm up in the spring and quickly overheat. The air permeability of the soil increases, it becomes loose and nutritious. In autumn, straw, mowed grass and tops are laid out on the garden bed.

   In the spring, fresh manure is added and sprinkled with lime and sawdust, mixed with a pitchfork. Then lay the soil mixed with ash and mineral fertilizers. To increase the speed of heating, pour boiling water.

   Sawdust for early potato harvest

   So, why do we need sawdust for the garden? What are their benefits and harms? The use of sawdust helps speed up the potato harvest. Choose tubers of early varieties and germinate in the light. At the bottom of the boxes, 10 cm of sawdust is poured, tubers with sprouts are laid out and sprinkled with moistened sawdust. Set aside for 2 weeks.

   Features of substrate care:

   • the optimum temperature is not higher than +20 ° С;
   • sufficient moisture.

   Before planting, the soil is covered with a film to warm up. Sprouts 8 cm high are watered with complex mineral fertilizer and planted in prepared holes. First, the potato planting is covered with straw or hay, and then with a film.

   Sawdust and plant insulation

   So that the sawdust does not get wet, they are stuffed into bags. Then spread around the plants. If sawdust is poured around the plant and not covered, then they will get wet and turn into an ice crust in winter. Rodents also like to hide in them, so be sure to cover them with polyethylene.

   Sawdust for seed germination

   Seeds are comfortable in moistened sawdust, but if the plant is not transplanted on time, it will die.

   The germination technology is as follows:

   1. Sawdust is poured into the container and the seeds are laid out.
   2. Sprinkle with a thin layer of sawdust.
   3. Cover with polyethylene and clean in a warm place (+ 25 ... + 30 ° C).
   4. As soon as shoots appear, the container is cleaned in a cool place.
   5. Remove the polyethylene and sprinkle with soil.
   6. Dive when the first true leaf appears.

   This technology can be applied when germinating any kind of seeds.

   DIY fertilizer

   Nutritious compost can be prepared in 4 months. Dense polyethylene is spread on the ground, shavings, weeds, foliage are poured. Add 200 g of urea and pour 10 liters of water or mullein. Cover with polyethylene on top to create a greenhouse effect. Under the influence of sunlight, the process of reproduction of microorganisms begins, and the sawdust quickly rots. The main thing is to monitor the humidity inside the heap and mix it periodically. Vegetables and raspberries can be mulched with half-ripe sawdust.

   A month later, the sawdust that has percolated is ready for use in the beds. The constant use of such a fertilizer will make the soil loose, similar in consistency to the one sold in flower shops.

   Cons of using sawdust and cautions

   So, we have already found out whether fresh sawdust in the garden brings benefit or harm. If sawdust is introduced without waiting for the moment when it is completely overheated, then the wood will take some of the nitrogen from the soil for the decomposition process, as we discussed above. And also the acidity of the soil may increase, the growth of beets and cabbage will slow down.

   Before the onset of winter, it is not recommended to cover the beds with a thick layer of sawdust, since the layer will begin to overheat from below, and no changes will occur from above until the onset of spring. Spruce or pine shavings contain a lot of resin, which garden plants do not like. Sawdust generated during construction work may contain chemicals. Therefore, they are used with caution.

   1. Properties of wood chips and shavings
   2. What are the benefits and possible harm?
   3. What sawdust to use
   4. Several fertilizer recipes
   5. Recipe 1: wood and ash
   6. Recipe 2: Enriched with organics
   7. Fertilizer from fresh sawdust
   8. How to properly mulch
   9. Strawberries and wild strawberries
   10. How to cover roses
   11. Sawdust for seedlings

   Mulching is the surface covering of garden and vegetable garden soil with mulch, which can be crushed bark, pine needles, sawdust and other natural materials. This agricultural technique avoids many health problems of cultivated plants on the ground and in the greenhouse. Using sawdust as a mulch can achieve amazing results in the growth and development of a plant, but only if certain rules are observed.

   Properties of wood chips and shavings

   Sawdust mulch is suitable for use on all types of soil. What is good about this material:

   • Does not release moisture from the ground, thereby helping to maintain the balance of water in the dry season and in hot areas;
   • Does not allow weeds to grow. This is one of the main reasons for the use of wood waste as a mulch powder;
   • Fresh sawdust is used as bedding for berries - the smell of wood repels some pests from fruits, and clean small chips keep strawberries and strawberries clean;
   • Mulching the soil allows the roots of some plants to survive the winter;
   • Wood chips serve as fertilizer. True, for this you need to fulfill some conditions.

   It is worth noting that mulching with sawdust cannot be done in the form in which they are. The fact is that wood does not saturate the soil with useful substances, but, on the contrary, draws them out like a sponge. Sawdust material becomes useful if it is added to the main mixtures for fertilizer or kept for a year or two in a compost heap. At this time, bacteria settle on the surface of the chips, which saturate the wood with useful microelements released during decay and reproduction of microflora.

   What are the benefits and possible harm?

   Sawdust is often used by gardeners to improve the quality of plant life, but not always a person knows about the true benefits of taking it and is not able to accurately assess its harm. However, in most cases, a positive effect is still obtained from their use. Sawdust in the garden - good or bad?

   Advantages of sawdust:

   • With proper preparation, an excellent humus is obtained, similar in properties to traditional manure, which, as you know, costs a lot.
   • Sawdust scattered on paths in the garden prevents the spread of weeds.
   • Retain moisture in the soil, especially in spring. To do this, it is necessary to mulch the soil in the fall.
   • Contribute to the natural aeration of the soil a few years after use.
   • Coniferous shavings and chips practically do not tolerate pathogenic microbes, which eliminates the risk of plant infection.

   Harm of wood waste:

   • Sawdust in its pure form is not fertilizer. According to some reports, they absorb minerals from the soil and the soil becomes depleted. To be more precise, nitrogen is drawn out from the fertile layer, which is necessary for the vital activity of microorganism.
   • Fresh sawdust oxidizes the soil.
   • When using sawdust of unknown origin, it is possible to infect plants with certain diseases. To eliminate this drawback, you should not take material from unknown sources.

   What sawdust to use

   Shavings of different trees are not suitable for all plants:

   • Waste of deciduous trees is suitable for all cultures, except for oak.
   • Conifers saturate the soil with acid, therefore they are only suitable for lovers of such an environment - tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and others.

   Several fertilizer recipes

   Sawdust in its pure form is only suitable for filling paths in order to retain moisture and stop the development of weeds. In other cases, the preparation of raw materials is required.

   In order for sawdust in the garden to become useful, they need to rot. To achieve the desired condition, they will have to lie down for at least 10 years in a pile, while the bacteria process the wood into a useful substrate. To speed up the process, you should make compost from sawdust. In combination with manure and additional additives, the fertilizer ripens faster due to thermoregulation in the right range and maintaining a sufficient level of humidity.

   Recipe 1: wood and ash

   Lay down:

   • Wood sawdust - 200 kg;
   • Urea rich in nitrogen (up to 47%) - 2.5 kg per pile;
   • Ash necessary for alkalization of the soil - 10 kg;
   • Water - 50 liters;
   • Grass, food waste and drains - up to 100 kg.

   Shavings and grass are laid in layers, ash is added and the “pie” is poured with urea dissolved in water. You can cover the pile with polyethylene film, but small pores should remain in the surface: this way the temperature and humidity level will be optimal, and oxygen will remain available.

   Recipe 2: Enriched with organics

   For poor soil that requires a significant dose of fertilizer, prepare this compost from sawdust:

   • Wood waste - 200 kg;
   • Cow dung - 50 kg;
   • Fresh cut grass - 100 kg;
   • Organic waste (food, feces) - 30 kg;
   • Humates - 1 drop per 100 liters of water (no more).

   When this fertilizer ripens, a significant amount of nitrogen is released.

   Fertilizer from fresh sawdust

   As already mentioned, fresh sawdust does not benefit the soil as a fertilizer for the garden. If you have not done composting in advance, but it is necessary to saturate the soil, use a sawdust mixture with the following additives per bucket of wood chips:

   1. Ammonium nitrate - 40 g;
   2. Granular superphosphate - 30 g;
   3. Slaked lime - 120 g (glass);
   4. Calcium chloride - 10 g.

   The mixture must be infused for 2 weeks. To do this, spread polyethylene on the street and sprinkle the ingredients on it.

   Mix and leave to isolate the necessary elements and carry out chemical reactions. After that, add the resulting mixture to the soil when digging the beds. The earth will receive a sufficient dose of ammonia, the acid-base balance of the soil will be leveled, the release of useful substances will occur immediately after the first watering. Fertilize the soil should be in the amount of 2-3 buckets per 1 square meter of land. This procedure contributes to the natural loosening of the soil.

   How to properly mulch

   Sawdust in the country is useful not only to speed up the composting process, but also for the winter shelter of plants, their fertilizer and protection from pests.

   Prepared sawdust as a mulch is good to use in the first half of summer, when seedlings and plants are just gaining strength and need protection from weeds, soil moisture loss and disease attacks. By the middle of summer, there will be no obvious trace of the powder - it will be mixed with the earth by rains and worms.

   Basically, sawdust saturated with fertilizers is lined in the aisles. This must be done between beds with tomatoes, potato rows and other plants.

   Other vegetables grown in the garden - onions, carrots, beets, garlic, turnips - also need a protective powder. It must be done after picking, when the plantings are thinned out and have reached a height of 5-7 cm, for them a 3-4 cm layer of sawdust is lined.

   Raspberries are one of the main fans of mulching in the garden. It is necessary to preserve the soil moisture necessary for setting berries. Prepared sawdust is plentifully poured under the bushes.

   Strawberries and wild strawberries

   Is it possible to mulch strawberries with sawdust? The answer is unequivocal - it is possible and necessary, just like strawberries. This procedure is useful for berries:

   • Sawdust maintains the balance of moisture in the soil;
   • Tender fruits remain clean without touching the ground;
   • Slugs and snails do not crawl on the berries.

   For mulching, clean sawdust without impurities is needed, but before the procedure it is important to saturate the soil with minerals and fertilize well to prevent the impoverishment of the fertile layer. The material used can be mixed with urea in the above proportions.

   Sawdust is moistened and laid out under the bushes, under each branch and between the bushes.. The layer thickness should be 5-7 cm. This work is presented in the video.

   Backfilling is done when the seedlings are already rooted and have gained a height of more than 7 cm. Mulching strawberries with sawdust for the winter will help the perennial plant survive the winter better and keep the root system intact.

   How to cover roses

   Gardeners say: “A rose is a child of manure”, because sawdust is necessary for it as a fertilizer, but they are not suitable as a shelter for the winter, such a mulch does not have sufficient heat-retaining performance.

   Shelter of roses with sawdust can be used for wintering only in combination with other, more effective materials. The expert will talk about this in more detail in the video.

   Sawdust for seedlings

   Tomatoes and other seedlings do not come to the garden and garden as seeds, but in the form of ready-made seedlings. They can also be bred in small wood waste - such an environment is more favorable for a tender seed than soil. How to properly organize the process:

   1. Moistened small chips are poured into a flat container;
   2. Seeds are planted, they are generously sprinkled with fertilizer, since there is nothing nutritious in the sawdust;
   3. Cover with a film, make holes for air and expose to the sun;
   4. When sprouts appear, soil is poured on top so that the plant gets used to it.

   The advantage of germinating seeds in woody material is a loose environment that allows the seedling root system to develop intensively, but only if there is an adequate supply of nutrients.

   Various production wastes are often used in the household.

   Often they can successfully replace purchased products and turn out to be no worse in quality.

   Waste generated in the process of sawing wood (sawdust) can be very helpful in the garden.

   After all, with their help:

   • fertilize the soil, making it more fertile;
   • create favorable conditions for the germination of seedlings and seedlings;
   • fight weeds;
   • regulate the acidity of the soil;
   • protect the roots of plants from drying out and frost;
   • make the paths cleaner and more comfortable to move.

   Use before planting

   Most types of seedlings need to be planted at the very beginning of spring, when the air temperature at night often drops to negative values.

   Because of this, the soil temperature does not exceed +5 degrees, so it the roots do not develop well, and the plant is sick.

   If it is not possible to put up a greenhouse, then filling fresh wood waste into grooves or holes may be a good solution.

   Sawdust needs to be poured 3-5 cm below the level of the roots, so make the seats a little deeper.

   Having dug a hole or groove and laid some sawdust on the bottom, water them with any fertilizer that contains nitrogen and phosphorus, you can also put a few grains of urea.

   In this case, the bacteria that ensure the decay of wood waste and raise its temperature will take these substances from the fertilizer that has soaked the ground and the top layer of soil will be provided with constant heating, and also will not lose the trace elements necessary for plant growth.

   Wood sawing waste is better suited for such bedding. hardwood fruit trees(pear, apple, apricot, etc.). If such sawdust is not available, then any other leafy waste can be used, mixing it with a small amount of manure or droppings to speed up the decomposition of wood.

   If only coniferous sawdust is available, then they need mix in equal parts with manure, and also treat with aerobic bifidobacteria. Such drugs are sold in garden stores, they can also be bought on the Internet, for example, here. The cost of packaging sufficient to process 25 m2 is 4–4.5 thousand rubles.

   Sprinkle over the sawdust a mixture of garden soil and humus, because in most cases the garden soil is very depleted, so the plant will not be able to develop normally in it.

   There are many useful substances and trace elements in the mixture of earth and humus, so the planted seedlings will not suffer from their lack.

   Do not mix the earth with unripened sawdust, droppings or manure, because this mixture will burn the roots of plants and you won't get a harvest.

   If you have completely rotted sawdust, then they can also be added to the mixture of soil and humus, they will improve the structure of the soil, so that the earth will be better filled with water, air and various nutrients.

   In addition, rotted sawdust will provide the plant with additional nutrients, in particular calcium and phosphorus.

   This method of planting can be used for any garden plants, however, for the best result take into account the acidity of the soil.

   You can determine it using analyzes or by plants on the site. If they grow there:

   • sorrel;
   • horsetail;
   • buttercup;
   • acid;
   • blueberry,

   then earth is very acidic and pits or grooves for planting need spill with a solution of slaked lime, and sprinkle the bottom layer of sawdust with wood ash.

   If on the site appeared:

   • heather;
   • fern;
   • cornflowers,

   that's enough shed holes or grooves with lime mortar.

   Most root crops, as well as cucumbers and tomatoes, love moderately acidic soil, so if there are no plants listed above on the site, then sawdust poured into the bottom of the hole, groove or furrow, slightly acidify the soil, so that the seedlings will grow better.

   Overripe sawdust does not change either the acidity or the amount of nitrogen in the soil, therefore, by mixing them with soil and humus, you only contribute additional fertilizers, therefore no adjustment of acidity or amount of nitrogen is required.

   The same method of adding sawdust to the bottom of grooves or holes can also be used for planting seeds directly into the ground. However, for such a planting, a greenhouse is needed, because the time for planting the seeds is in February and March, so the debate of sawdust will not be able to warm the earth and air to the desired level.

   Planting seeds on sawdust allows you to meet the deadlines and avoid transplanting from pots into the soil that injures the roots of plants, because, unlike the earth, sawdust has a very loose structure, therefore when transplanted, the roots are preserved intact.

   If you are going to grow seedlings in separate containers, and then transplant them into open or closed ground, then completely rotted sawdust should be mix with earth and humus. This will provide the maximum amount of nutrients and elements necessary for seedling growth.

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   Fertilizer

   Sawdust is a good material for obtaining fertilizers, and depending on the method, its composition, characteristics and the time during which they turn into fertilizer change.

   Here main methods of obtaining fertilizers:

   • natural decay;
   • rotting with droppings or manure;
   • rotting with the addition of bifidobacteria.

   The process of natural decay takes several years., and its speed depends on the type of wood, humidity and temperature.

   Soft hardwoods rot the fastest. The process lasts somewhat longer in medium-hard hardwood waste. The sawdust of coniferous and hard hardwoods rots the longest.

   Adding litter or manure to wood waste accelerates their decay, as well as makes ready-made humus more useful.

   In addition to glucose, calcium and phosphorus, it contains nitrogen and other useful substances. Adding bifidobacteria to the mixture of sawdust and litter or manure allows you to get ready-made humus within a few months.

   Such fertilizers can apply from autumn to spring. In the summer, when the plants are gaining strength and bearing fruit, this is undesirable. After all, the earth must take in the fertilizer and mix with it, otherwise, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe roots, areas will turn out where the content of nutrients exceeds not only the norm, but also a safe value.

   That's how it gets vegetables soaked in nitrates- fertilizer was introduced at the wrong time and it did not have time to dissolve in the ground. As a result, the roots of the plant were not in the ground, but in the fertilizer and absorbed too many nitrogen compounds.

   Mulching

   After watering, water not only saturates the soil and goes into the depths, but also evaporates from the surface.

   The evaporation process directly depends on the wind speed and air temperature, so on sunny or windy days the earth dries up quickly.

   As water evaporates, soil moisture drops and plant roots lose their ability to absorb nutrients and trace elements necessary for growth.

   The roots can only absorb an aqueous solution of these substances.

   A layer of sawdust laid on top of the ground (mulch) reduces the rate of moisture evaporation, due to which plants absorb water solution more efficiently and need less watering.

   Fresh sawdust negatively affects the acidity of the soil, and also draws nitrogen out of it, therefore, immediately after laying the mulch from sawdust, the earth must be watered not only with water, but also solution of nitrogen-containing and alkaline fertilizers.

   In addition, these fertilizers need to be applied 2 more times throughout the season - in mid-spring and mid-summer. For more information about this process, as well as various combinations of fertilizers, read the article (Sawdust mulch).

   Weed and pest control

   Chemical control methods used in the fields, not always applicable in the garden, because domestic animals often run along it, which can be poisoned. Therefore, gardeners are forced to look for other ways to fight, one of which is backfilling the earth with a thick (5–10 cm) layer of sawdust.

   This is similar to mulching, however, not only the space around the stem of the plant is covered, but the entire garden.

   Wood waste, laid in a thick layer, deprive seedlings of weeds of sunlight, because of which they cannot grow and soon die off.

   Slugs are one of the most dangerous and tenacious pests living in vegetable gardens. Mulch from fresh sawdust sticks to the body of the slugs, because of which they lose the ability to crawl and soon dying from dehydration.

   This mulch should be sprinkled once a week with a thin layer, as well as pour coffee residues dissolved in water which is detrimental to slugs.

   If you only have rotted sawdust, then due to the softening of the wood during the process of decay, they can no longer stop slugs, therefore useless in the fight against these pests.

   Backfilling tracks

   During the rain the paths between the beds become limp and turn into an impenetrable mess, so many gardeners fill them with various materials.

   Wood waste is better suited for this task than crushed stone, broken slate or brick, because they not only eliminate dirt, but also improve soil structure. In addition, the lower layer of backfill gradually rots and after 1-4 years, depending on the humidity and type of wood, it turns into a good fertilizer, which is received by nearby plants.

   If, over time, you decide to change the shape or location of the beds / plantings and dig up the garden, then in this case, sawdust will be useful.

   They will improve the structure of the soil, making it looser, and also fill the soil with nutrients.

   To reduce the negative impact of wood on the soil, 3-4 times a year, spill the paths covered with sawdust with urea and slaked lime or ash solution.

   These preparations compensate for the loss of nitrogen in the soil, and also adjust the acidity of the soil to an acceptable level.

   Choosing between coniferous, including pine and hardwood sawdust, take into account the different time of their decay. Hardwoods turn into humus much faster, and the softer the wood, the less time is needed for this process.

   Waste sawing alder or poplar will rot in 1-2 seasons, and oak or coniferous - in 3-5 seasons.

   Can do not divide the garden into beds and paths, filling the entire area with sawdust. The optimal layer thickness is 10 cm. In this case, it is advisable to use rotted sawdust, because before winter and spring it is advisable to dig up the earth.

   Fresh wood, once in the soil, will acidify it and reduce the level of nitrogen. If there is no decaying wood waste, then immediately after backfilling and in the fall, after harvesting, pour sawdust with a solution of litter or manure, as well as a means that accelerates the reproduction of bifidobacteria.

   From spring to autumn, these sawdust will play the role of mulch and dumping, and bacteria will turn them into high-quality fertilizer by spring. By plowing the entire garden, you will mix the soil with fertilizer, so that all plants will receive a more abundant and balanced nutrition.

   Coniferous and deciduous - which is better for the garden?

   On numerous forums, users often ask the question - what kind of sawdust is best for the garden and is it possible to use coniferous or some other wood waste?

   When applied correctly any sawdust brings many benefits, but improper use can be harmful and completely destroy the crop making the land unsuitable for growing some plants.

   Any wood sawing waste make the soil more acidic and also draw nitrogen out of it, therefore, it is necessary to apply fertilizers along with them to compensate for these changes.

   Sawdust, both fully or partially rotted and fresh, improves soil structure, which is especially important on clay soils. On particularly heavy soils consisting of solid clay, it is necessary add sand along with sawdust.

   Fresh wood waste in the process of decay is very hot, which leads to an increase in soil temperature and overheating of plant roots, so fresh sawdust can not be laid close to the roots.

   That's why there is not much difference between coniferous and deciduous sawdust - when used correctly, they bring many benefits, and mistakes can be harmful and lead to sad consequences. Most of the negative reviews about the use of sawdust in the garden are due to their incorrect use, while those who used them correctly are satisfied with the results.

   Conifers

   However, it is important to understand the differences between hardwood and softwood sawdust and how the latter affect the soil.

   In most cases, coniferous sawdust means pine or spruce sawdust as the most accessible, as well as as cheap as possible. Pine and spruce are used for most joinery and carpentry, so sawdust is everywhere.

   Fresh pine and spruce sawdust due to the high resin content, they rot much longer deciduous, and also draw more nitrogen from the soil.

   Improper use of pine and any coniferous sawdust causes much more damage to the garden than hardwood.

   Due to the high content of resins, humus from sawdust contains more microelements necessary for plants, therefore it is better suited for a balanced top dressing.

   If coniferous sawdust is laid in furrows, ditches or pits, then due to the greater need for nitrogen for complete decay, it is necessary to increase the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

   In addition, pine sawdust more acidic soil, so you need to increase the amount of slaked lime or ash.

   Use pine and other coniferous sawdust in the garden not only possible but necessary, taking into account their features and compensating for the negative impact on the land. Only in this case they will bring a lot of benefits.

   Deciduous

   Due to the lower resin content, humus from leafy waste is a little less balanced, but they rot faster. In addition, hardwood sawdust is less accessible, so dried and chopped branches and twigs of fruit trees are often used in the garden.

   Using such material, be careful, because among the dried branches often come across sick or injured various pests.

   Such sawdust cannot be used, because bacteria will not be able to process pests and pathogens, therefore fertilizer from them can infect your plantings.

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   All this allows us to conclude that those sawdust that easier and cheaper to bring to the garden. Whatever wood waste you use, you still have to use other fertilizers along with it.

   In this article Where to get sawdust, we talked about the places where you can buy wood sawing waste, and also talked about various ways that can save on their purchase.

   Only an integrated approach, in which the negative impact of wood on the soil is compensated, will lead to improved plant development, as well as more plentiful and high-quality fruiting.

   Related videos

   This video talks about the use of sawdust in the garden:

   Summarize

   sawdust is very useful stuff useful for any gardener. After all, they are used for:

   • mulching;
   • dumping tracks;
   • plant nutrition;
   • improve soil structure;
   • earlier planting of seedlings or seeds.

   After reading the article, you learned how to use this material correctly and what mistakes gardeners most often make.

   Inexpensive and affordable natural material - sawdust. You can buy them at the nearest sawmill, get them on your own site during construction, sawing firewood. Farmers have found many ways to benefit from this waste. However, do not forget that they can be harmful. Further in the article, let's take a closer look at such aspects as the benefits and harms of using sawdust in the garden. And also how you can fertilize or treat the beds with them.

   Scopes of sawdust in the country or garden

   Sawdust and shavings are sometimes burned to obtain a mineral fertilizer - wood ash. But this is how valuable organic matter disappears, the voluminous loose substance disappears. It's better to do it the other way around:

   1. Mulching.
   2. Compost.
   3. Bookmark in the soil and greenhouses.
   4. Neutralizer of harmful substances.
   5. Acidifier.
   6. Dehumidifier.
   7. temperature insulator.
   8. Pest repeller.
   9. Additive to seedling soil.
   10. Substrate for mycelium, germination of seeds and tubers, forcing flowers and herbs.
   11. Medium for winter storage of rhizomes and tubers.
   12. Covering garden paths.
   13. Litter in animal husbandry and poultry farming, in a dog kennel.
   14. Filler in the country toilet.
   15. Material for stuffing garden scarecrows, garden furniture and cushions.
   16. Construction raw materials (insulator, insulation, filler for sawdust concrete).
   17. Fuel in heating boilers.
   18. Source of smoke in the smokehouse.

   sawdust close up

   Varieties of small wood waste

   Small waste from sawing wood is divided into chips, large and small fractions. There are also differences in the type of wood: from coniferous or hardwood. Sometimes differences are important, for example: leaf waste rots faster; conifers are not suitable for smoking products, etc. But any organic matter is valuable. Before use, it is desirable to process sawdust.

   Benefit and harm

   1. For humans and the environment, the presence of impurities such as creolin, chemical oils, paint particles, glue, gasoline is dangerous. That is why it is necessary to take processed wood products, and not chipboard or sleepers.
   2. Resinous substances inhibit the germination of seeds, the development of plants. This disadvantage is neutralized by scalding the substrate with boiling water, as well as by composting.
   3. Underripe organic matter (when applied to the soil and on its surface) begins to decompose by microorganisms that intensively consume soil nitrogen. Because of this, plants experience nitrogen starvation - turn pale, develop worse. Therefore, it is recommended to put only rotten sawdust into the ground, and when mulching fresh, flavor them with nitrogen fertilizers.
   4. Sawdust compost acidifies the soil. Simultaneous alkalization is necessary (in autumn - with lime, in spring - with dolomite flour, ash).
   5. Seedling sawdust soils dry out too quickly. It is necessary to observe the recommended proportions of the components, monitor the regularity of watering.

   Mulching

   Sawdust mulch is a cheap and convenient option. They cover it in the country:

   • surface of ridges with vegetables and strawberries
   • soil in raspberries, flower beds
   • tree trunks in the fruit and berry garden

   Sawdust in bags ready for soil mulching

   The thickness of the layer can be from 4 to 20 cm.

   Mulch is placed in spring or early summer, and for fruit and berry and ornamental crops it can also be done in autumn. At the beginning of the season, rotten sawdust compost of the last or the year before is used; at the end of the season, spring composting organic matter is suitable.

   It is permissible to mulch with fresh sawdust. They are pre-cooked: impregnated with a strong solution of nitrogen fertilizers. To do this, 3 buckets of mulching material are poured with 10 liters of water, where a quarter kilogram of carbamide or nitrate is dissolved. It is best if this mixture stands for a couple of weeks before mulching (covered with polyethylene), after which you can pour it onto the beds. Mineral fertilizers can be replaced with fresh manure or manure (2 liters), but this mulch is not suitable for strawberries and some vegetables (for hygienic reasons).

   Advantages of sawdust mulch

   1. the material is not clogged with weed seeds
   2. gradually overheating, the mulch enriches the soil with organic matter
   3. moisture is saved
   4. no soil crust and erosion
   5. roots are warmed, temperature differences are smoothed out
   6. comfortable for beneficial soil inhabitants (microorganisms, earthworms)
   7. the exit of some pests is difficult
   8. no dirty splashes from rain and watering - cleaner food and less disease
   9. inhibits the growth of weeds
   10. ridges, garden, flower beds look well-groomed and beautiful

   Mulching sawdust beds with potatoes

   How to fertilize with compost

   The best way to dispose of sawdust is proper composting. Just poured out in a large heap, they will rot for several years (especially from coniferous trees). Rotting is accelerated by layer-by-layer mixing with substances such as

   • manure, litter
   • feces
   • foliage
   • herbal humus
   • dolomite flour, ash.

   The mass is regularly shoveled and spilled with water, as well as solutions of mineral fertilizers, herbal infusions, biological preparations (Baikal, Flumb Super, Radiance). The process of compost maturation usually lasts from six months to two or three years. The minimum waiting period is 2 months.

   Mixed compost is considered the best organo-mineral fertilizer for all crops.

   Compost made from sawdust

   Bookmarking in the soil and greenhouses

   Fertilizer "works" in the ground for 3-5 years: it nourishes plants, loosens heavy loams.

   Small wood waste is also used when laying biofuel in greenhouses and greenhouses. They are mixed: fresh sawdust to fresh manure, rotten to rotted (in a ratio of 1: 1).

   Use of sawdust in greenhouses

   Neutralizer of harmful substances

   A fresh mass of small wood waste serves as an "ambulance" in case of emergency. It is added to the ground if an excess of nitrogen and other fertilizers is noticed. So plants will avoid fattening, accumulation of nitrates and harmful salts.

   Acidifier in the beds in the garden

   Sawdust is useful when planting and mulching those plants that love the increased acidity of the soil (hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, blueberries).

   Pine sawdust as a desiccant

   sawdust compost

   Fresh sawdust can absorb an amount of liquid that is 5 times its volume. They are good for filling drainage ditches, paths between high ridges in wetlands.

   temperature insulator

   In regions where winter temperatures are low, dry sawdust closes the root zone and branches of shrubs (grapes, hydrangea, rose, clematis), planting winter garlic and perennial flowers (lilies, irises, chrysanthemums) from freezing from freezing. To avoid warming up, the shelter is made at the onset of sub-zero temperatures, and the opening is done early in the spring. To protect against dampness, a waterproof material (polyethylene, roofing material, etc.) is placed on top.

   Some fruit and berry crops bloom very early, and the ovaries freeze slightly. If the root zone is covered with a powerful sawdust layer, then the trees and shrubs will wake up later. Flowering will move to a more comfortable time.

   Rose bushes sprinkled with sawdust for the winter

   Pest repeller in the garden

   Small wood waste is impregnated with tar or gasoline, laid out to repel rodents, onion and carrot flies.

   Adding prickly sawdust makes it difficult for snails and slugs to move. The resinous aroma partially protects plants from the attack of beetles (Colorado, raspberry, flower beetle, weevil).

   Additive to seedling soil

   A soil substrate containing 10 to 50% rotten sawdust compost is recommended for

   • vegetable and flower seedlings
   • rooting cuttings and strawberry whiskers
   • growing seedlings with a closed root system.

   Other components of such soil are garden soil, peat, some sand. Loose soil requires frequent watering or special moisture-retaining additives (hydrogel, vermiculite, coconut substrate).

   Underripe organic matter can cause starvation of young plants. If the foliage has turned pale, then it is necessary to give nitrogen-phosphorus top dressing.

   Walkway covered with sawdust

   Use of the substrate as a fertilizer

   In fresh small sawdust, seeds of cucumbers (as well as zucchini, pumpkins, melons and watermelons) are germinated, seedlings are kept. The substrate is poured with boiling water, then the water is immediately drained. The procedure is repeated twice to wash off the resinous substances. The warm wet mass is laid out in a layer of 6 cm, dry seeds are placed in it to a depth of 1.5 cm (with a distance of 3 cm from each other). Crops are covered with a film and placed in a warm place. Shoots "shoot" after 3-4 days. Seedlings are ready for planting in two weeks.

   In sawdust, you can make the forcing of green onions, tulip flowers. The substrate must first be shed with boiling water, flavored with a complex fertilizer with a predominance of nitrogen. Potato and dahlia tubers are germinated in the same way before planting.

   The middle fraction of crushed wood of deciduous trees is used in the artificial cultivation of mushrooms such as oyster mushrooms.

   Medium for winter storage of rhizomes and tubers

   In autumn, flower growers dig up dahlia tubers, callas and begonias, canna rhizomes. They are stored in a cellar or refrigerator, sprinkled with dry, fresh sawdust. Resinous components inhibit decay.

   This method is not suitable for preserving lilies and onion sets (they will lose turgor).

   Farmers are diligent and creative people. They are able to convert waste into income, especially when it comes to organics. As you can see, the use of pine or any other sawdust can be beneficial in the right hands.

   Almost all summer residents are well aware that it is categorically not recommended to introduce sawdust into the soil and you should definitely not expect good yields on such soil. This is especially true of fresh sawdust, because they often lead to excessive acidification of the soil, a fungus can easily appear in them, and they also draw a decent amount of nitrogen from the soil. But, nevertheless, sawdust can be an excellent component for improving air permeability (they are an excellent leavening agent) and soil structure! True, in order for them not to overrip and thoroughly spoil the soil, they must be properly prepared. And it's not that hard to do it!

   How to prepare sawdust for fertilizer?

   In order to prepare sawdust for subsequent application to the soil, you will need to acquire some kind of nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizer. Urea is especially well suited for these purposes - for each bucket of sawdust it will be enough to take one handful of urea. At the same time, it is important to take into account the ability of powdered urea to cake and form sparingly soluble lumps, so it is better to immediately purchase a granular version. Useful for harvesting sawdust and huge black plastic garbage bags (up to two hundred liters).
   
   

   

   Pre-moistened sawdust is thoroughly mixed in a large garden bucket, in an old tank or in some other container with urea or other nitrogen-containing fertilizer, after which they are carefully poured into pre-prepared bags. When the bags are filled, they are tightly closed and the contents are allowed to “brew” well for at least three weeks - during this period, the sawdust will be properly saturated with nitrogen and become absolutely safe for the soil. It is especially good to use sawdust prepared in this way in the fall - over the summer they are not only perfectly saturated with nitrogen, but also lose their pricklyness and rigidity.

   How and when to bring ready-made sawdust into the soil?

   

   Sawdust-based fertilizer can be applied to the soil both in autumn and in spring - as a rule, this is done when digging the soil. And, most importantly, such fertilizer can be applied under absolutely any crop! Its application under potatoes gives very good results - in this case, the tubers always turn out clean and even. And if you take pine sawdust as a basis, they will become a real salvation from the Colorado potato beetle (in the event that there are too many beetles on the site, such fertilizer is applied three times over the summer)! For potatoes, sawdust is also good because they in every possible way prevent it from overheating and drying out.

   As for the end of summer, it is better not to introduce sawdust into the soil during this period. This is especially true for fruit plants - if you ignore this rule, fruit ripening and the entire fruiting process as a whole can be greatly delayed.

   Sawdust saturated with nitrogen can be used not only as a fertilizer, but also as a mulch or insulation - they can safely cover the beds with winter garlic, garden strawberries, as well as flower beds with wintering flowers! As you can see, the scope of sawdust is very extensive, so do not rush to get rid of them as unnecessary as soon as possible! Better put them into action - you won't regret it!

   After cutting down trees, sawing wood or construction work, sawdust always remains. Many, out of ignorance, simply throw them away or burn them, depriving themselves of very useful material. Where and how sawdust is used, you can read in detail in this article.

   What are sawdust for?

   These, in fact, waste can be used for such purposes:

   • To loosen the soil.
   • Fertilizer as part of the compost.
   • Mulching horticultural crops.
   • Insulation in the cold season for heat-loving plants.
   • Covering material for paths.
   • Storage of vegetables and fruits.
   • Growing seedlings and mushrooms.
   • In decorating.
   • Construction works.

   It is only important to remember that there are different types of sawdust. Some may not be suitable for specific purposes. For example, coniferous sawdust for fertilizers and soil work is not suitable. But birch, linden, from fruit trees, maple sawdust are universal.

   Garden work

   In order to use sawdust on your site, you need to know all their features. Since if used incorrectly and used in its pure form, they can not only not give the expected effect, but also harm.

   Garden fertilizer

   In order for sawdust to serve as fertilizer, you need to mix it with minerals. There are two good reasons for this:

   • Sawdust in its pure form makes the soil acidic.
   • Nitrogen is removed from the soil, which is so necessary for most plants.

   

   To avoid such problems, composting is a great option. Two cooking methods:

   1. Quick way: with air access. Can be used after 1-2 months.
   2. Long-term method: with limited air access. Such raw materials will be ready in 4-6 months.

   And now more about these methods.

   Instant compost

   There are three varieties, depending on the constituent components:

   • Sawdust-mineral. To prepare it, you need to adhere to the proportion: for 5 kg of sawdust (in 1 bucket for 10 liters - 1 kg of sawdust), 125 g of urea, 40 g of superphosphate and 75 g of potassium sulfate are taken. Dissolve mineral fertilizers in water, pour sawdust, which is placed in a prepared pit. Mix everything thoroughly for better air access. Leave for a month, or better - two. Stir occasionally.
   • Sawdust-organic. In this option, you need to add chicken droppings or manure to the sawdust. With manure, the proportion of sawdust is 1: 1 (by weight), and the litter should be taken half as much. Mix all. Leave for fermentation, periodically fluffing and mixing with a pitchfork.
   • Sawdust-mixed. In this case, compost is harvested as in the first option - with mineral fertilizers. They stand for a month, and sawdust with organic matter is applied on top. Leave for another month, stirring regularly, and the fertilizer is ready to use.

   

   Important to remember! No sealing or pressing. Looseness and free access of air are the main rules of this compost.

   If it is possible to keep such compost longer (3-4 months), then you can get excellent fertilizer. Having made a bookmark in the spring, in the fall you will get an excellent mixture for digging the soil.

   Long-term compost

   It is necessary to dig a hole, about 50 cm deep. Throw chopped unnecessary organic waste from the garden and the house into it (branches, foliage, grass, vegetable and fruit peels, carrot and beet tops, tomato stalks, sawdust, manure, food waste) everything tamp thoroughly. This is best done by pouring in small layers, pouring each layer with several shovels of soil. Pour with a solution of nitrophoska, at the rate of 100 g per bucket of water, gradually filling and compacting the pit. Cover everything with plastic wrap. To block air. Withstand 4-6 months. High humidity and temperatures below 20°C are excellent conditions for good compost.

   

   Remember: the longer the compost rots in the pit, the better it turns out. And even after 2-3 years, it will be an excellent fertilizer, better than a young one.

   

   Growing seedlings and germinating seeds.

   By mixing sawdust with the ground (rotted or pre-treated with urea, ash or chalk), you can get excellent soil for growing seedlings of peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers.

   But ordinary sawdust is suitable for germinating seeds. Pour a thin layer of these small pieces of wood, spread the seeds, cover with a thin layer of sawdust. Pour over, cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place to germinate. When shoots appear, remove the film, and lightly sprinkle the sawdust with earth. When the first true leaf appears, the plants dive into separate containers with fertile soil.

   

   Mushrooms on sawdust

   You can grow oyster mushrooms on sawdust from deciduous trees. But the cultivation technology is not as primitive as it seems. It is necessary to properly prepare sawdust: mix with hay, bran, mineral components. Simmer the bran itself in hot water to remove the microorganisms that live in it. Sow live mycelium in a moist substrate. Maintain high humidity and temperature between 8°C and 28°C.

   

   warm beds

   A feature of these beds is the faster ripening of vegetables, since heating from below makes it possible to plant crops earlier than usual, and the ripening time with constant heat is reduced. Plants in such areas get sick less, it is difficult for pests to get to them.

   

   You can make a garden bed like this:

   • Dig a hole, 25-30 cm deep, in place of the future bed.
   • Protect the edges with bumpers so that the bed does not fall apart.
   • Put everything in layers, at least 10 cm thick.
   • At the bottom - a drainage layer of coarse branches and organic waste.
   • Pour sawdust, pour them with a solution of urea.
   • From above, lay out a layer of what is on the site: straw, grass, foliage, chopped corn stalks, weeds, manure. The thickness of this layer is 15 cm.
   • Spill each layer with hot water or a solution of manure, or chicken manure.
   • Cover with plastic wrap to reheat (for a week or 10 days).
   • After the temperature begins to decrease, open the film and lay out a layer of soil (12-15 cm).

   After such procedures, the bed is ready for planting vegetables.

   

   Sawdust can be used not only in the garden. They will also find work in the garden and flower beds.

   Use of sawdust in the garden

   Shredded wood is an excellent insulation for plants that are difficult to tolerate cold. Young seedlings also need warming for the winter.

   sawdust insulation

   If you use sawdust as a heater, you need to remember that they cannot be left outdoors. They get wet, freeze, rot and kill plants. It is better to fill polyethylene bags with sawdust and overlay seedlings or bushes with them. You can do it this way: cover bent branches, vines or vines with sawdust. Then cover the top with foil and secure the edges. But such insulation must be made before frost, so that a shelter for rodents does not work out.

   

   Mulching

   

   For this purpose, you can not take fresh sawdust. They need to be prepared: mixed with ash, poured with a solution of urea and let it brew for two weeks. Such sawdust can already be poured under the plants. The layer thickness is not more than 4 cm. Strawberries, raspberries, strawberries, and garlic love such mulching. It is better to pour this remedy in the spring. In the middle of summer, such manipulations are better not to do. For horticultural crops, mulching should be carried out along the perimeter of the crown. Fertilize and water over the mulch.

   

   
   

   

   From a practical point of view, such paths have proven themselves well in both dry and rainy weather. The chance of getting dirty is minimized. A dense layer does not allow weeds to break through.

   

   The use of sawdust for decorative purposes

   Craft stuffing

   Well-dried sawdust can be used as filler for stuffed animals in the country, summer pillows on the terrace, decorative and soft toys.

   

   colored sawdust

   

   Chopped wood is well stained with gouache solution. After drying, applications can be made from it by gluing a picture onto cardboard. On the floor or path - a soft decorative rug will come out.

   

   

   Other applications

   Harvest storage

   

   Mulching - it is an agricultural practice, which reduces moisture loss in the soil and improves the structure or composition of the soil.

   In addition, mulch protects the plant from:

   • overheating and freezing of the roots;
   • slugs;
   • weeds.

   Any garden and garden plants receive nutrition and the substances necessary for growth in the form of aqueous solutions, which they absorb with the help of roots.

   Therefore, the lower the soil moisture, the more difficult it is for the roots to extract nutrients from the ground, so the soil must be constantly moistened.

   However, frequent watering often leads to rot, so it is extremely important increase the interval between waterings and reduce the rate of soil water loss.

   

   Water leaves the soil four ways:

   • it is consumed by plant roots;
   • it seeps into the deep layers of the soil;
   • it evaporates due to heating by the sun's rays;
   • it is carried away by the wind.

   The influence of the first two points cannot be stopped or slowed down.

   Therefore, it remains influence the evaporation of water due to heat and wind. Mulch, that is, the material covering the ground, reduces the intensity of heating of the soil, and also separates the soil surface from moving air, which is why water loss caused by these factors is reduced.

   After rotting, mulch made from natural materials mixes with the soil and improves its structure making the soil looser. Thanks to this, the roots of plants gain access to water more easily, because moisture is distributed more evenly over loose soil, so what the roots have consumed is naturally compensated.

   In summer, the mulch protects the soil from the sun's rays, so that the roots of the plants do not overheat. In winter, the mulch layer protects the roots from frost, acting as a heat insulator.

   If the water in the soil and roots freezes, then will increase in size and break the root cells, after which they will no longer be able to perform their functions normally. Thanks to the heat-insulating properties of the mulch, the water in the roots does not freeze even in severe frosts, and in spring it is easier for the plant to wake up from sleep and resume growth.

   In addition, the mulch protects the beds from slugs and weeds, because the former experience discomfort when moving on a very uneven surface, and the latter cannot normally grow through a thick mulch layer.

   The impact of wood waste on the ground: the pros and cons

   

   To understand how sawmill mulch differs from mulch made from other materials, it is necessary to understand how sawdust affects the soil.

   The transformation of wood into humus (humus), that is, a substance suitable for absorption by plants, occurs due to the activity a wide variety of bacteria and fungi.

   This process occurs with any organic matter, due to which any plants, animals and other living organisms, after death, turn into humus.

   During the vital activity of microorganisms that ensure the decay of wood, various acids are released, only a part of which is necessary to obtain humus.

   The remaining acids do not affect the mechanical properties of the soil, but change the acid-base balance of humus, and then the soil with which it contacts.

   This effect appears most strongly during the decay of sawdust of coniferous species, therefore, even partially rotted wood sawing waste acidifies the earth, changing the acid-base balance and making the ground unusable for some plants.

   In addition, bacteria and fungi, which ensure the decay of wood, consume a lot of nitrogen extracted both from sawdust and air, and from the soil with which wood waste comes into contact.

   Therefore, with any use of sawdust, it is necessary to take into account the consumption of nitrogen by bacteria and the decrease in the level of this element in the soil.

   

   Some of the acids secreted by bacteria and fungi are danger to young seedlings and shoots, which have not yet had time to grow a strong bark that protects them from pathogens of various diseases.

   Therefore, mulching young seedlings with fresh sawdust leads to damage to their skin and infection with pathogens of various diseases.

   If a decrease in nitrogen levels and an increase in acidity can be compensated by lime or ash, as well as nitrogen-containing fertilizers, then the only way to protect seedlings- use only completely rotted material for mulching.

   To compensate for the change in the acid-base balance of the soil after the application of sawdust mulch, the soil is sprinkled with ash, dolomite flour or slaked lime (fluff).

   Alkali from these drugs reacts with acids , because of which the latter are converted into salts with the release of water.

   These processes are slow: therefore, both an increase in acidity and a decrease occur within a few months.

   That is why adding ash or other reagents along with applying a layer of sawdust mulch keeps the soil from changing acidity if the amount of reagents corresponds to the amount of acids isolated from wood waste.

   How to make mulch?

   For mulching, you can use different materials the most popular of which are:

   • polyethylene film;
   • uprooted or mowed weeds;
   • forbs (hay);
   • straw;
   • a mixture of various organic materials (weeds, hay, straw, etc.) with rotted manure or compost;
   • needles;
   • sawdust.

   Polyethylene film, especially black or two-tone, it suppresses the growth of weeds well and gives the garden a beautiful appearance, but does not affect slugs in any way.

   In addition, on a hot summer day, the earth under such a film heats up to dangerous levels, which often leads to the death of the roots.

   Weak vapor permeability of this material leads to an increase in moisture on the surface of the earth and the appearance of mold and colonies of harmful bacteria, as well as the rapid reproduction of wood lice.

   In addition, the film cannot protect against frost, so other materials must be used with it.

   On any bed or in a greenhouse, various weeds are constantly growing, which take away nutrients and moisture from cultivated plants, so they are weeded out or torn out.

   Picked, mowed or uprooted weeds can also be used as mulch, which is better than a film insulating heat and cold. However, such material often leaves weed seeds in the ground, which germinate over time, after which they have to be pulled out again or weeded out.

   A few days after laying on the ground, in uprooted weeds the transformation into humus begins. Moreover, it is carried out by the same fungi and bacteria that ensure the decay of sawdust.

   As a result, the soil becomes slightly acidic, and the free acid damages the thin skin of the seedlings, making them vulnerable to disease.

   

   Weeds rot much faster than sawdust due to the lower content of lignin in the trunk, so they have time to completely rot before the start of frost.

   This leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of frost protection, because as a result of decay the thickness of the weed layer is greatly reduced.

   The situation is the same with forbs hay, straw or needles - these materials quickly rot, besides, they can infect the site with seeds, which will lead to the appearance of extra plants in the garden or in the greenhouse.

   Due to rapid decay, spring mulch cannot protect plant roots from frost, and due to the presence of mulch, weed grass does not grow on the beds that can be used for autumn mulching, so hay or straw will have to be bought.

   If it is possible to buy these materials, then they effectively protect the roots plants from frost.

   Since the decay of any type of organic matter is provided by the same fungi and bacteria as sawdust, their effect on the soil is approximately the same.

   The only difference is that the dried stems of any herbs are much less dense than sawdust, therefore, with the same volume, they differ greatly in mass.

   At the same time, the number of microorganisms that provide decay, as well as the amount of acid released by them and nitrogen consumed from the ground, is directly related to the mass. Therefore, the effect of mulch from hay, straw and uprooted weeds on the ground is much less than the effect that sawdust has.

   

   In addition, the shape and structure of sawdust better suited for loosening the earth, than any other material.

   After all, the torn stems, as well as hay or straw, consist of long elements, and the waste from sawing wood, in size more like very coarse sand or very fine gravel.

   Therefore, the soil with them passes water and air well. A mixture of any stems, as well as hay or straw with droppings / manure compensates for the consumption of nitrogen by microorganisms, and lime or ash compensates for the increase in acidity.

   However, even in this combination, these materials may not be as efficient as a mulch , like sawdust.

   After all, wood lice do not breed under sawdust, and weeds do not grow either, because the density of the mulch layer is much higher and there are not enough reserves in the weed seed to push through such a mass of wood waste.

   If the total mass of weed, hay, or straw mulch were equal to that of sawdust mulch, then the rate of change in acid-base balance, as well as nitrogen removal, would also be the same.

   That's why negative impact on the ground sawdust and these materials are the same, but the benefits of sawdust are much greater.

   The maximum efficiency of any mulch, including winter, is achieved only with the planting of green manure.

   

   After all, even a mixture of rotted wood sawing waste with droppings or manure cannot fully compensate for all the substances spent on the growth of cultivated plants.

   And here is a combination of mulch from and litter or manure with planting properly selected green manure fully compensates for all the spent substances and allows you to effectively grow crops in one area for many years.

   Moreover, green manure and even the best mulching can't replace each other because they have different purposes.

   Raw material preparation

   So that sawdust does not harm the ground and plantings, they must be properly prepared in order to make mulch, completely or partially converted into humus(humus).

   To do this, you can use both pure wood waste of any species, and a mixture of sawdust with any feces, as well as nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

   To start the fermentation process, in which various bacteria and fungi will process wood into humus, it is necessary provide high humidity and temperature over +15 degrees.

   After all, the number of microorganisms must exceed a certain minimum threshold, after which they can effectively process organic matter.

   

   Adding manure or humus to the fermented mass reduces temperature requirements.

   After all, excrement already contains most of the necessary microorganisms, and much more than the minimum amount.

   After reaching the minimum number, microorganisms begin to process the material, releasing thermal energy in the process of life, so a pile of a mixture of sawdust and dung / manure is warm inside even on frosty days.

   By adding lime, ash or dolomite flour to decaying sawdust or a mixture with manure / manure, you will get a mulching material with excellent fertilizing properties and neutralize the components that change the acidity of the soil.

   This is especially important if you want to use under-rotted material for mulching.

   For natural decay of waste sawing wood takes 2-4 years, depending on temperature and humidity. The addition of manure / manure reduces the period of complete decay to six months at above zero temperatures or a slight frost.

   If, along with excrement, you add a drug that accelerates the reproduction of bacteria, then sawdust completely overheat in 3-4 months.

   For more information about these processes and preparing sawdust for application to the ground or use as mulch, read the article sawdust compost.

   Is it possible to use fresh sawdust, and how to apply them correctly?

   

   When choosing wood waste for mulching certain plants, keep in mind that not completely rotted conifers sawdust acidifies the soil much more strongly than hardwood.

   Therefore, hardwood sawdust is better suited for mulching with incompletely rotted material.

   If you wait for the complete decay of wood waste, then there is no difference between coniferous or deciduous.

   For every plant use their own method making mulch, so the method of mulching peppers will not work for strawberries or raspberries.

   In addition, mulching annuals differs from the same procedure in beds or greenhouses with perennials in that no need to protect the roots plants from frost.

   How can it be applied as a winter protection?

   After harvesting, it is necessary to restore nutrients spent on the development of plants and loosen the compacted soil.

   If perennial plants are planted on beds or in greenhouses, then you also need to protect their roots from frost.

   To do this, you can either increase the layer of summer mulch, or pour winter mulch. For tillage under annual plants green manure is planted first, then cover the ground with winter mulch, which loosens the soil and fills it with nutrients.

   Best suited for this mulch based:

   • sawdust of any species;
   • litter or manure;
   • slaked lime;
   • a drug that accelerates the decay of compost.

   

   And can't even wait rotting mulch.

   Indeed, thanks to a drug that accelerates the reproduction of bacteria, as well as litter or manure, microorganisms that process organic matter, will multiply and perform their function even at sub-zero temperatures.

   Therefore, it is enough to scatter the thoroughly mixed composition over the greenhouse or garden bed, after which the microorganisms will turn it into humus, which will loosen the soil and compensates for the loss of nutrients and trace elements.

   If you want to mulch a garden bed in a garden or in a greenhouse, where perennials are planted, then consider the following:

   • only completely rotted material is suitable for laying directly on the ground;
   • partially rotted material is also suitable for laying on a layer of summer mulch, but around the plant stems you will have to leave a free space with a diameter of 10 cm, otherwise the plant stem will suffer.

   Therefore, it is not advisable to use incompletely decayed material for perennial plants, because it will loosen the soil and provide it with nutrients, but will not be able to protect the roots of plants from frost.

   Completely rotted humus from sawdust and animal excrement is devoid of these shortcomings.

   Nevertheless, winter mulching cannot fully replace the use of green manure, because even mulch based on the above composition compensates for the loss of only essential substances, but cannot replace what green manure restores.

   Therefore, the maximum effect is achieved when winter mulching carried out only after the collection of green manure, moreover, the green manure is scattered over the garden before laying the mulching layer.

   Related videos

   This video details the use of sawdust for mulching.

   Conclusion

   Sawdust is a good material for mulching any plant. When used correctly, this mulch protects plants from:

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