questions about composted saw dust

[wvsheila]

HI . I have a question, if anyone can help me. I'm building a new raised bed and have an old sawmill a mile down the road, he told me I could have all the composted saw dust I could haul away. its as black as could be, but I've never used old sawdust what will I need to add to it and when??? I have chickens, bunnies, horses and goats So I have lots of manure but I have to haul and dig that by hand the saw dust will be hauled and dumped. Ps I'm planning this bed for strawberrys and rasberrys

 

[patandchickens]

Mostly what it will do is add organic matter to the soil (thus, better water retention, looser soil, happier microorganisms, etc). I would not hold my breath for it to provide a significant amount of N P or K, although of course it does have *some* of them as well as some micronutrients. Its main role AFAIK is as organic matter.

It may still need some extra N to finish breaking down, btw. Which would come from the N in your soil (temporarily) if you do not add any other N source such as chicken manure.

If you are concerned about the details of soil nutrients, I'd suggest waiting a couple weeks after you till it in and then doing a soil test (either a kit or send off to a lab).

Aged sawdust makes a great mulch, btw, as long as it's not put on so thick that it smothers air and rainfall out of the soil.

Congrats on finding a source of something so useful,

Pat

 

[nightshade]

It should be good for raspberries do to the acidicness of it. I am not sure how strawberries would like it though.

 

[patandchickens]

FWIW, composted shavings or sawdust do not generally have much of any effect on soil pH.

Pat