How to Compost Sawdust

Sawdust, since it is made of trees and plants, makes an excellent component to compost. It is considered a "brown" composting material and must be added to a compost pile containing "green" material, such as food, to break down effectively. Sawdust is especially useful because of its absorbtion properties, which allow it to take the moisture from the deocomposing green material and add that needed moisture to the soil. When added correctly and in correct proportion, you will have a heavy, dark, nutrient-rich soil to use with your plants and vegetables.

Things You'll Need

• Compost bin
• Sawdust
• Food scraps and waste
• Pitchfork or compost aerator

Instructions

1. Add an equal amount of sawdust and green material. The ratio should be 1-to-1 for a successful compost breakdown.

2. Douse the compost pile several times a season with water if your sawdust is from chemically treated wood. This water, in addition to rainfall, should dilute the strength of the chemicals, and bring them out of your composting pile.

3. Aerate the compost. Moving and turning the pile is critical to making sure the sawdust and green material break down successfully. After adding each dose of sawdust, turn the material with a pitchfork or compost aerator.

4. Layer the sawdust in with the green material so that the mix decomposes evenly.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid adding sawdust from walnut wood to your compost pile. Walnut sawdust is an herbicide and will kill plants and inhibit the growth of new ones.

References

• Wood Web: Uses for Shavings and Sawdust
• Gardening Know How: Using Sawdust in Your Compost