Composte Question

swripley 3/24/2010, 6:34 pm

I found a local company with compost that is a blend of composted horse and steer bedding and sawdust. Can I count this as four sources - horse manure, steer manure, straw and sawdust - or only three? Poo is poo after all. $35 a yard. Sounds too good to be true so of course I think there has to be a down side.

Patty from Yorktown 3/24/2010, 7:11 pm

Hi,

I hate to rain on your compost source, but I think I know what the problem is...sawdust. I am writing off of memory and we all know how selective that can be... seems to me sawdust takes a long time to rot. I know I have used some in my garden and it took about a year to finally disappear. I do not remember any adverse effects, but that has been awhile. I would count it as three sources. Good luck.

Happy gardening.
Patty in Yorktown

**camprn** 3/24/2010, 8:40 pm

I was told many years ago by a Master Gardner that one should avoid using wood, chips and sawdust, (bark is ok as mulch) in the garden beds, as the decomposition took ages and depleted the surface soil of nitrogen. Of course this is a debate that seems to rage on and on. :?:

Now, that being said, are the shavings already composted with the manure? I believe that if it is composted, then it would be very nice to use.

swripley 3/25/2010, 12:07 pm

Okay, I called the company back and got a bit more info. The livestock bedding is mixed with sawdust and then composted for up to six months (at least 3). Based on forum feedback, doesn't seem like that is enough time for the sawdust to be of benefit. But will it cause any harm?

new2this 3/25/2010, 2:45 pm

I am not %100 sure of myself here, as I am not too familiar with what exactly most vegetables require of their soil, but my guess is that the soil pH should be relatively neutral.
I read the other day that blueberries would benefit from PINE sawdust because it lowers soil pH, and blueberries like that low pH.
I do know that some flowers are picky about pH too, and for flower gardening sawdust is not recommended.
I bet if you research it a bit more you'll find some good info on wether you should or should not use it.

**camprn** 3/25/2010, 2:49 pm

swripley wrote:Okay, I called the company back and got a bit more info. The livestock bedding is mixed with sawdust and then composted for up to six months (at least 3). Based on forum feedback, doesn't seem like that is enough time for the sawdust to be of benefit. But will it cause any harm?

I think If I was to buy this manure, (and if they were closer I would) I would use it to heat up a compost pile. Making quick compost takes fresh-ish manure and a few weeks. Build a pile of yard, garden and kitchen waste, add manure and a bit of water, turn it every few days, for a few weeks and then, when the pile cools, put it in the garden.

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