I have two large trash cans full of cedar shavings. Will it hurt anything to use them as mulch ?

Question

I want to put them around vegetables and flowers, but they seem so strong smelling, I wonder if they would affect the vegetable taste, etc.

I have used pine bark mulch in the past, but cedar smells so strong.

Or maybe I could make 2,605,000 little potpouri bags for people to hang in their closets! tsk tsk

Answer 1

Pine and cedar shavings contain toxins, and are NOT safe for garden beds as mulch for vegitable beds/gardens. It however may be used for floral beds or around shrubs. DO NOT get the much right up on the plant, leave a space around the plant WITHOUT and mulch about 1-2' and it should be safe. HOWEVER there are pros & cons to this, and if the mulch gets WET and is thick on the top soil, the mulch's toxins can reach the plant roots. Some have used it correctly and had no problems, but others have lost plants due to using it. Simply don't let it lye on the soil on top of where the plant's MAIN root system is.

HOWEVER:

You can however spread leaves or shavings of Fennel, Rosemary, or Red Cedar Shavings, ... and dragon flies will help to reduce pest populations around the home and garden.

Another use is placed in cloth bags in closets, drawers and trunks, to help detur moths and other pests.

You can also bring a little outdoor scent indoors, by using them in a potpori simmer pot. This adds a wonderful woody scent to the air. It is a fresh and clean smell and more in the spectrum of MALE scents, as opossed to floral feminine scents.

Answer 2

Nothing wrong with larger bags of potpourri. Seriously, you can use cedar for mulch. There are pros and cons for all mulches but basically you want a mulch to even the temperature and conserve moisture in the soil. I don't think cedar is toxic like say, black walnut or some maples, but remember to keep some space around tree trunks so borers won't get all cozy. I should think aromatic cedar should help repel some insects.
YMMV

Answer 3

No- do not use them for mulch in a vegetable patch. Any wood chips (mulch) need to mature before putting around flowers or vegetables. Your only option is to spread them on bare dirt for about a year, then you can move to your vegetable garden.

Answer 4

I vote for the little potpouri bags, to be honest. I was in the gym yesterday, and I noticed that someone had a pair of fancy little bags of cedar chips tucked into her dress shoes so that they'd smell nice when she got finished working out. You could make shoe size pairs of cedar bags and sell them on eBay.

Or, you could go with the closet thing... I'd still eBay them, but that's just me. :)

Answer 5

ideally Pine ought to be prevented with aspen being the extra appropriate option. whether that may no longer a threat all over the place. i exploit Pine decrease with guinea pig pellets and hay. Smells like a horse stable ^.^ . Kiln Heated pine is risk-free using fact the oils burn off below the warmth. Ceder is undesirable throughout using fact the heady scent is poisonous and would reason extreme lung issues. Pine does a similar situation whether that's no the place as useful. wish that enables :-)

Answer 6

Should be just fine for mulch. At least termites won't thrive in it, especially if you use it around your home.

It is unlikely to impart a flavor into your vegetables. (My dad used to grow tomatoes and used horse manure. The tomatoes didn't taste funny.)

Answer 7

It would be fine but you have to be careful to not use it if you have termites. I would not use it around the vegetables, only the flowers and it is really great around shrubs and trees.

Answer 8

No.