Sawdust in the garden

[ring sting]

I have been building a deck, and have some sawdust. My question is: Can i use it in the garden?

To answer the basics:

Timber type: Tallowwood (eucalyptus microcorys) an australian hardwood species, grown from the central coast of NSW through to northern coastal S.E. Qld (Fraser island). Typically used as dock piers, decking, structural etc. Termite resistant, naturally oily wood. http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/26_5704.htm

Treated? NO WAY! No CCA, LOSP etc.
No paint, varnish, stain or lacquer.

Particle size varies from dust to 1/2mm shavings from a planer, and some 2-3mm shavings from a router.


Cheers,

RS


PS Here's and internet pic of some tallowwood decking. Not my place.

 

[Nova]

Yes you can Ringa, burn it in an oven type setup (bricks maybe), the trick is to burn it slowly without the addition of too muck oxygen, you want to basically smoulder it.

 

[ring sting]

OK, so turn it to charcoal/ash first? Then use as compost.

Can i just chuck it in the soil?

 

[millworkman]

You can do both, I would burn some and just use some. Great soil stabilizer and texture builder.

 

[POTAWIE]

I have a sawmill and use lots of sawdust mixed in my soil and I use larger shavings as mulch.
I'm not sure about using eucalyptus species, I think they contain toxins

 

[Silver_Surfer]

Make sure you add an extra source of nitrogen to compensate since decomposing wood uses up a lot of nitrogen.