is it possible to compost sawdust from a backyard sawmill?

Question

I would like to build a drum type composter to utilize the sawdust produced by my small sawmill. Will it work? Would it be possible to compost large amounts?

Answer 1

Hello,
Yes sawdust makes "a" good compost ingredient. (Carbon Element, or "browns", as it is called.)
You will need to add goodly amounts of nitrogen sources, such as "greens", grasses and such.
If no green leafy type offerings are available, I use "blood meal", soybean meal, even a few hand-fulls of fertilizer like, calcium nitrate.
It's the nitrogen source and moisture that really help breakdown/digest the sawdust, because it also helps feed the essential bacteria that heats up and kills bad bacteria, seeds, and possible fungi present at the time of initial mixing of compost.

I'd like to refer you over to this website: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/soil/

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/


They are really good about info you are seeking.

Hope this helps,
Dave

Oh, 1 thing though, I wouldn't add walnut sawdust to any compost plies or mixes, It contains toxins to other plants!

Answer 2

In general, sawdust makes excellent compost material. You will need to add quite a bit of nitrogen containing stuff though. Grass clippings and most vegetable waste from the kitchen have the nitrogen you want. I think ashes might too.. Without them, the plants will get icky for lack of nitrogen.

The amounts you can make probably depends on how much grass clippings you have. It'll take a bit of time to compost well, and you'll want to keep it moist, turn it, and add bugs if you can. Grubs, pill bugs, and worms love it... termites too, but I wouldn't try adding them!

Answer 3

The little bit of chain oil contained in the sawdust received't annoy the compost one bit. be careful about including too a lot, extraordinarily eco-friendly hardwood, sawdust to the pile at one time. It takes a large number of nitrogen and time to decompose sawdust. once you've plenty, you may be more beneficial off to compost it one after the different.

Answer 4

You have to watch what you put it on as to what kind of wood you are cutting. Pine will kill any plant you put it on if it isnt at least a year old. it will compost but it takes time to break every thing down in it. Hard wood you can put out with out much problem and if you compost it first it is great.

Answer 5

sawdust is good to compost only if its from solid wood. dont compost plywood or chipboard or particleboard or mdf because they all contain glue and chemicals. also dont compost pressure treated (green) lumber--its toxic. dont add sawdust to soil unless youre also adding a lot of manure with it because sawdust robs the soil of nutrients while its in the process of composting. if you mix sawdust with a variety of other compost materials it will decompose faster.

Answer 6

depends on how much wood you cut.. sawdust is sawdust.. ti'll work the same.. just gotta see how much you can get out of the wood you cut.

Answer 7

Not if its chemically treated.