Sawdust for the garden - benefits and harm for plants, tips for proper use. What to mix sawdust with to fertilize the soil

Various production wastes are often used in the household.

Often they can successfully replace purchased products and turn out to be no worse in quality.

Waste generated during the sawing process of wood (sawdust) can be very helpful in the garden.

After all, with their help:

fertilize the soil, making it more fertile;
create favorable conditions for germination of seedlings and seedlings;
fight weeds;
regulate soil acidity;
protect plant roots from drying out and frost;
make the paths cleaner and more convenient for movement.

Most types of seedlings must be planted at the very beginning of spring, when the air temperature at night often drops to negative values.

Because of this, the soil temperature does not exceed +5 degrees, so it the roots do not develop well and the plant becomes sick.

If it is not possible to install a greenhouse, then good decision there may be a backfill of fresh wood waste into grooves or holes.

Sawdust needs to be poured 3–5 cm below the root level, so make the seats a little deeper.

Having dug a hole or groove and placed some sawdust on the bottom, water them with any fertilizer that contains nitrogen and phosphorus, you can also add a few grains of urea.

In this case, bacteria that ensure the decay of wood waste and raise its temperature will take these substances from the fertilizer that has soaked the soil and the top layer of soil will be provided with constant heating, and also will not lose the microelements necessary for plant growth.

Wood sawing waste is better suited for this type of bedding. deciduous fruit trees(pear, apple, apricot, etc.). If there is no such sawdust, then you can use any other leaf waste, mixing it with a small amount manure or droppings to speed up the decomposition processes of wood.

If only pine sawdust is available, then you need it mix in equal parts with manure, and also treat with aerobic bifidobacteria. Such preparations are sold in gardening stores, they can also be bought on the Internet, for example. The cost of packaging sufficient to process 25 m2 is 4–4.5 thousand rubles.

Place on top of the sawdust a mixture of garden soil and humus, because in most cases, garden soil is severely depleted, so the plant will not be able to develop normally in it.

There is a lot of earth and humus in the mixture useful substances and microelements, so the planted seedlings will not suffer from their lack.

Do not mix soil with unrotted sawdust, litter or manure, because this mixture will burn the roots of the plants and you will not receive a harvest.

If you have completely rotted sawdust, then they can also be added to the mixture of soil and humus; they will improve the structure of the soil, so that the earth will be better filled with water, air and various nutrients.

In addition, rotted sawdust will provide the plant with additional nutrients, in particular calcium and phosphorus.

This planting method can be used for any garden plants, but for best results soil acidity must be taken into account.

It can be determined using tests or by looking at the plants on the site. If they grow there:

sorrel;
horsetail;
buttercup;
sorrel;
blueberry,

That the earth is very acidic and holes or grooves for planting are needed pour slaked lime solution, and sprinkle the bottom layer of sawdust with wood ash.

If the following appeared on the site:

heather;
fern;
cornflowers,

that's enough pour lime mortar into the holes or groove.

Most root vegetables, as well as cucumbers and tomatoes, love moderately acidic soil, so if the site does not have the above plants, then sawdust poured into the bottom of the hole, grooves or furrows will slightly acidify the soil, so that the seedlings will grow better.

Rotted sawdust does not change either the acidity or the amount of nitrogen in the soil, therefore, by mixing it with soil and humus, you only add additional fertilizers, so no acidity or nitrogen adjustment is required.

The same method of adding sawdust to the bottom of grooves or holes can also be used for planting seeds directly into the ground. However, for such planting a greenhouse is necessary, because the time for planting seeds is in February and March, so sawdust burning will not be able to warm the ground and air to the required level.

Planting seeds on sawdust allows you to meet deadlines and avoid transplanting from pots into soil that injures the roots of plants, because, unlike soil, sawdust has a very loose structure, so When transplanting, the roots are kept intact.

If you are going to grow seedlings in separate containers and then transplant them into open or closed ground, then you need completely rotted sawdust mix with soil and humus. This will ensure maximum amount nutrients and elements necessary for seedling growth.

Fertilizer

Sawdust is a good material for producing fertilizers, and depending on the method, its composition, characteristics and the time during which they are converted into fertilizer change.

Here main methods of obtaining fertilizers:

natural decay;
rotting with droppings or manure;
rotting with the addition of bifidobacteria.

The natural decay process takes several years, and its speed depends on the type of wood, humidity and temperature.

Soft hardwoods rot most quickly. The process lasts somewhat longer in hardwood waste of medium hardness. Sawdust from coniferous and hardwood species takes the longest to rot.

Adding droppings or manure to wood waste accelerates their decay, as well as makes ready-made humus more useful.

In addition to glucose, calcium and phosphorus, it contains nitrogen and other useful substances. Adding bifidobacteria to the mixture of sawdust and litter or manure allows you to obtain ready-made humus within several months.

Such fertilizers can be apply from autumn to spring. In the summer, when the plants gain strength and bear fruit, it is not advisable to do this. After all, the soil must absorb the fertilizer and mix with it, otherwise in the area of the roots there will be areas where the content of useful substances exceeds not only the norm, but also the safe value.

That's exactly how it turns out vegetables soaked in nitrates– the fertilizer was applied at the wrong time and it did not have time to dissolve in the ground. As a result, the roots of the plant ended up not in the soil, but in the fertilizer and absorbed too many nitrogen compounds.

Mulching

After watering, water not only saturates the soil and goes deep, but also evaporates from the surface.

The evaporation process directly depends on wind speed and air temperature, so on sunny or windy days the ground dries out quickly.

As water evaporates, soil moisture drops and plant roots lose their ability to absorb nutrients and microelements necessary for growth.

The roots can only absorb an aqueous solution of these substances.

A layer of sawdust laid on top of the soil (mulch) reduces the rate of moisture evaporation, due to which plants absorb water solution more efficiently and need watering less often.

Fresh sawdust negatively affects the acidity of the soil and also draws nitrogen out of it, so immediately after laying sawdust mulch, the soil must be watered not only with water, but also solution of nitrogen-containing and alkaline fertilizers.

In addition, these fertilizers need to be applied 2 more times throughout the season - in mid-spring and mid-summer. For more information about this process, as well as about various combinations of fertilizers, read the article (Sawdust mulch).

Weed and pest control

Chemical control methods used in the fields not always applicable in the garden, because domestic animals often run along it, which can be poisoned. Therefore, gardeners are forced to look for other methods of control, one of which is to cover the soil with a thick (5–10 cm) layer of sawdust.

This is similar to mulching, but not only the space around the plant trunk is covered, but the entire bed.

Wood waste, laid in a thick layer, deprive weeds of seedlings sunlight , due to which they cannot grow and soon die off.

Slugs are one of the most dangerous and tenacious pests living in vegetable gardens. Mulch made from fresh sawdust sticks to the body of slugs, causing them to lose their ability to crawl and soon die from dehydration.

This mulch should be added once a week in a thin layer, and pour over the coffee residue dissolved in water, which is harmful to slugs.

If you only have rotted sawdust, then due to the softening of the wood during the decay process, they can no longer stop slugs, so useless in the fight against these pests.

Backfilling of paths

During the rain the paths between the beds become muddy and turn into a difficult-to-pass porridge, so many gardeners fill them with various materials.

Wood waste is better suited for this task than crushed stone, broken slate or brick, because it not only remove dirt, but also improve soil structure. In addition, the bottom layer of fill gradually rots and after 1–4 years, depending on the humidity and type of wood, it turns into good fertilizer, which is received by nearby plants.

If over time you decide to change the shape or location of the beds/plantings and dig up the garden, then sawdust will be useful in this case too.

They will improve the structure of the soil, making it looser, and also fill the soil with nutrients.

To reduce Negative influence wood on the soil, 3-4 times a year, water the sawdust-strewn paths with urea and slaked lime or ash solution.

These drugs compensate for the loss of nitrogen in the soil, and also adjust the acidity of the soil to an acceptable level.

Choosing between coniferous, including pine and hardwood sawdust, take into account their different rotting times. Deciduous wood turns into humus much faster, and the softer the wood, the less time is needed for this process.

Waste from sawing alder or poplar will rot in 1-2 seasons, and waste from oak or coniferous wood will rot in 3-5 seasons.

Can do not divide the garden into beds and paths, covering the entire area with sawdust. The optimal layer thickness is 10 cm. In this case, it is advisable to use rotted sawdust, because it is advisable to dig up the ground before winter and spring.

Fresh wood, once in the soil, will acidify it and reduce the level of nitrogen content. If there is no rotten wood waste, then immediately after backfilling and in the fall, after harvesting, pour the sawdust with a solution of droppings or manure, as well as a means that accelerates the proliferation of bifidobacteria.

From spring to autumn, these sawdust will play the role of mulch and filling, and bacteria will turn them into high-quality fertilizer by spring. Having plowed the entire garden, you will mix the soil with fertilizer, thanks to which all plants will receive more abundant and balanced nutrition.

Coniferous and deciduous – which is better for the garden?

On numerous forums, users often ask the question - which sawdust is best for the garden and is it possible to use coniferous or other wood waste?

When used correctly any sawdust brings many benefits, but improper use can be harmful and completely destroy the harvest making the land unsuitable for growing some plants.

Any waste from sawing wood make the soil more acidic and also draw nitrogen out of it Therefore, it is necessary to add fertilizers along with them to compensate for these changes.

Sawdust, both completely or partially rotted and fresh, improves the structure of the soil, which is especially important on clay soils. On particularly heavy soils consisting of solid clay, it is necessary add sand along with sawdust.

Fresh wood waste becomes very hot during the process of decay, which leads to an increase in soil temperature and overheating of plant roots, so fresh sawdust cannot be laid close to the roots.

That's why there is not much difference between coniferous and deciduous sawdust - when used correctly, they bring many benefits, but mistakes can be harmful and lead to dire consequences. Most of the negative reviews about the use of sawdust in the garden are caused by their incorrect use, while those who used them correctly are satisfied with the results.

Conifers

However, it is important to understand the differences between hardwood and softwood sawdust, as well as how the latter affects the soil.

In most cases, pine sawdust means pine or spruce sawdust as the most accessible, as well as as cheap as possible. Pine and spruce are used for most carpentry and carpentry, so sawdust is everywhere.

Fresh pine and spruce sawdust due to the high resin content, it takes much longer to rot deciduous and also pull more nitrogen from the soil.

Improper use of pine and any coniferous sawdust causes much more damage to the garden than deciduous sawdust.

Due to the high content of resins, humus from pine sawdust contains more microelements necessary for plants, therefore better suited for balanced feeding.

If pine sawdust is placed in furrows, ditches or holes, then due to the greater need for nitrogen for complete decay, it is necessary to increase the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

In addition, pine sawdust acidify the soil more strongly, so you need to increase the amount of slaked lime or ash.

Use pine and other pine sawdust in the garden not only possible, but also necessary, taking into account their characteristics and compensating for the negative impact on the earth. Only in this case will they bring much benefit.

Deciduous

Due to the lower resin content, humus from leaf waste is slightly less balanced, but they rot faster. In addition, deciduous sawdust is less accessible, so dried and crushed branches and branches of fruit trees are often used in the garden.

When using such material, be careful, because among the dried branches often come across sick or injured various pests.

Such sawdust cannot be used, because bacteria will not be able to process pests and pathogens, therefore fertilizer made from them can infect your plantings.

All this allows us to conclude that sawdust that It’s easier and cheaper to bring it to the garden. Whatever wood waste you use, you will still have to use other fertilizers along with it.

In this article we talked about the places where you can buy wood sawing waste, and also talked about in various ways, which allow you to save on their purchase.

Only an integrated approach, in which the negative impact of wood on the soil is compensated, will lead to improved plant development, as well as more abundant and high-quality fruiting.

Video on the topic

This video talks about using sawdust in the garden:

Summarize

Sawdust is very useful material, which will be useful to any gardener. After all, they are used for:

mulching;
filling paths;
plant nutrition;
improving soil structure;
earlier planting of seedlings or seeds.

After reading the article, you learned how to use this material correctly and what mistakes garden owners most often make.

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Inexpensive and accessible natural material - sawdust. They can be purchased at the nearest sawmill, or obtained on your own site during construction or sawing firewood. Farmers have found many ways to benefit from this waste. However, do not forget that they can also cause harm. Later in the article, let's take a closer look at such aspects as the benefits and harms of using sawdust in the garden. And also how you can fertilize or treat beds with them.

Sawdust and shavings are sometimes burned to obtain mineral fertilizer - wood ash. But this is how valuable organic matter evaporates, the voluminous loose substance disappears. It's better to do it differently:

Mulching.
Compost.
Adding to soil and greenhouses.
Neutralizer of harmful substances.
Acidifier.
Dehumidifier.
Temperature insulator.
Pest repeller.
Additive to seedling soils.
Substrate for mycelium, germination of seeds and tubers, forcing flowers and herbs.
Wednesday for winter storage rhizomes and tubers.
Covering garden paths.
Bedding in livestock and poultry farming, in a dog kennel.
Filler in a country toilet.
Material for stuffing garden scarecrows, garden furniture and pillows.
Construction raw materials (insulator, insulation, filler for sawdust concrete).
Fuel in heating boilers.
Source of smoke in the smokehouse.

Sawdust close up

Types of small wood waste

Small waste from cutting wood is divided into shavings, large and small fractions. There are also differences in the type of wood: from coniferous or from deciduous species. Sometimes the differences are important, for example: leaf waste rots faster; Coniferous trees are not suitable for smoking products, etc. But any organic matter is valuable. It is advisable to treat the sawdust before use.

Benefits and harms

The presence of impurities such as creolin, chemical oils, paint particles, glue, gasoline.
Resinous substances inhibit seed germination and plant development. This deficiency is neutralized by scalding the substrate with boiling water, as well as by composting.
Unripened organic matter (when introduced into the soil and onto its surface) begins to decompose by microorganisms that intensively consume soil nitrogen.
Because of this, plants experience nitrogen starvation - they turn pale and develop worse. Therefore, it is recommended to put only rotten sawdust in the ground, and when mulching with fresh sawdust, flavor it with nitrogen fertilizers.
Sawdust compost acidifies the soil. Simultaneous alkalization is necessary (in the fall - with lime, in the spring - with dolomite flour, ash). Seedling sawdust soils dry out too quickly.

It is necessary to follow the recommended proportions of components and monitor regular watering.

Mulching Sawdust mulch is a cheap and convenient option.

They cover it at the dacha:
surface of beds with vegetables and strawberries
soil in raspberry gardens, flower beds

tree trunk circles in a fruit and berry garden

Sawdust in bags, ready for soil mulching

The layer thickness can be from 4 to 20 cm. Mulch is applied in spring or early summer, and for fruit and berry plants ornamental crops

– it is also possible in the fall. At the beginning of the season, rotted sawdust compost from last year or the year before is used; at the end of the season, organic matter from spring composting is suitable. It is also possible to mulch with fresh sawdust. They are pre-cooked

: soaked in a strong solution of nitrogen fertilizers. To do this, 3 buckets of mulching material are filled with 10 liters of water, where a quarter kilogram of urea or saltpeter is dissolved. It is best if this mixture sits for a couple of weeks (covered with polyethylene) before mulching, after which you can sprinkle it on the beds. Mineral fertilizers can be replaced with fresh manure or droppings (2 liters), but such mulch is not suitable for strawberries and some vegetables (for hygienic reasons).

Advantages of sawdust mulch
the material is not contaminated with weed seeds
gradually rotting, the mulch enriches the soil with organic matter
moisture is saved
no soil crust and erosion
roots are insulated, temperature changes are smoothed out comfortable useful soil inhabitants
(microorganisms, earthworms)
makes it difficult for some pests to escape
no dirty splashes from rain and watering – cleaner products and fewer diseases
inhibits weed growth

ridges, garden, flower beds look well-groomed and beautiful

Mulching a potato bed with sawdust

The best option for sawdust disposal is proper composting. Simply poured out in a large heap, they will rot for several years (especially from coniferous trees). Rotting is accelerated by layer-by-layer mixing with substances such as

manure, droppings
feces
foliage
herbal humus
dolomite flour, ash.

The mass is regularly shoveled and spilled with water, as well as solutions of mineral fertilizers, herbal infusions, biological preparations (Baikal, Flumb Super, Shining). The process of compost maturation usually lasts from six months to two to three years. The minimum waiting period is 2 months.

Mixed compost is considered the best organo-mineral fertilizer for all crops.

Adding to soil and greenhouses

The fertilizer “works” in the soil for 3-5 years: it nourishes plants and loosens heavy loams.

Small wood waste is also used to add biofuel to greenhouses. They are mixed: fresh sawdust with fresh manure, rotted with rotted manure (in a 1:1 ratio).

Neutralizer of harmful substances

A fresh mass of small wood waste serves as an “ambulance” in emergency situations. It is added to the soil if an excess of nitrogen and other fertilizers is noticed. This way the plants will avoid fattening, accumulation of nitrates and harmful salts.

Acidifier in the garden beds

Rotten sawdust is useful when planting and mulching those plants that love increased acidity soil (hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, blueberries).

Pine sawdust as a desiccant

Fresh sawdust can absorb an amount of liquid that is 5 times its volume. They are good for filling drainage ditches and paths between high ridges in wetlands.

Temperature insulator

In regions where winter temperatures are low, dry sawdust is used to protect the root zone and branches of shrubs (grapes, hydrangea, roses, clematis), planting winter garlic and perennial flowers (lilies, irises, chrysanthemums) from freezing. To avoid overheating, the shelter is made when sub-zero temperatures set in, and the opening is made earlier in the spring. To protect against dampness, a waterproof material (polyethylene, roofing felt, etc.) is placed on top.

Some fruit and berry crops bloom very early, and the ovaries freeze. If the root zone is covered with a thick layer of sawdust, then the trees and shrubs will wake up later. Flowering will be postponed to a more comfortable time.

Pest repeller for garden plots

Small wood waste is soaked in tar or gasoline and laid out to repel rodents, onion and carrot flies.

Adding prickly sawdust makes it difficult for snails and slugs to move around. The resinous aroma partially protects plants from attack by beetles (Colorado beetle, raspberry beetle, flower beetle, weevil).

Additive to seedling soils

A soil substrate containing from 10 to 50% rotted sawdust compost is recommended for

seedlings of vegetable and flower crops
rooting cuttings and strawberry mustaches
growing seedlings with a closed root system.

Other components of such soil are garden soil, peat, and a little sand. Loose soil requires frequent watering or special additives that retain moisture (hydrogel, vermiculite, coconut substrate).

Unrotted organic matter can cause starvation of young plants. If the foliage has turned pale, then you need to give nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizing.

Using substrate as fertilizer

Seeds of cucumbers (as well as zucchini, pumpkin, melons and watermelons) are germinated in fresh small sawdust and seedlings are kept. The substrate is poured with boiling water, then the water is immediately drained. The procedure is repeated twice to wash off the resinous substances. The warm, wet mass is laid out in a layer of 6 cm, and dry seeds are placed into it at a depth of 1.5 cm (at a distance of 3 cm from each other). The crops are covered with film and placed in warm place. The seedlings “shoot” after 3-4 days. The seedlings are ready for planting in two weeks.

In sawdust you can force onions and tulip flowers. The substrate must first be spilled with boiling water and fertilized with a complex fertilizer with a predominance of nitrogen. Potato and dahlia tubers are sprouted in the same way before planting.

Average fraction of crushed wood deciduous trees used for artificial breeding mushrooms such as oyster mushrooms.

Medium for winter storage of rhizomes and tubers

In autumn, flower growers dig up dahlia tubers, calla lilies and begonias, and canna rhizomes. They are stored in a cellar or refrigerator, sprinkled with dry, fresh sawdust. Resinous components inhibit rotting.

Farmers are zealous and creative people. They have the ability to convert waste into income, especially when it comes to organics. As you can see, using pine or any other sawdust can be beneficial in the right hands.

Gardeners in Russia and neighboring countries grow cabbage with pleasure and quite successfully. But the “set”, as a rule, is limited to varieties white cabbage different ripening periods, broccoli and cauliflower. Meanwhile, we already have popular types of cabbage that ripen earlier and bring less hassle when growing. In this article, we bring to your attention 5 types of cabbage that you may not have heard of yet, but which are definitely worth growing.

The long-awaited April does not always bring pleasant surprises with the weather. But sooner or later, all work in the ornamental garden will start in April. From simple household chores and clearing plant debris, cutting dry clumps and mulching the soil to planting new flower beds, you will have to take care of a lot. Planting comes to the fore in April. It is better to plant bushes, trees, and vines this month. But don’t forget about caring for seedlings.

Among the variety of tomato varieties, as a rule, only two groups are distinguished: indeterminate and determinate. But the tomato world is divided into more diverse “clans”, knowing about which is not only interesting, but also useful. Tomatoes are divided according to the method of cultivation, according to ripening time, according to leaf shape, according to fruit shape, according to size, according to color... Today I would like to talk about varieties that form the most colorful group under beautiful name"Bi-Colour".

Enchanting April with its delicate blossoms and the first dazzling greenery is a very capricious and changeable month. Sometimes it unpleasantly surprises with its winter atmosphere, and sometimes it pleases with unexpected warmth. In April, work begins on the beds, and a full season begins in the greenhouse. Sowing and planting in open ground should not interfere with caring for seedlings, because the quality of the harvest depends on its quality. Moon calendar beneficial plants are especially favored at the beginning of the month.

Spring sanitary pruning allows you to form a beautiful crown and stimulates the formation of a high yield. Trees easily tolerate it, recovery occurs very quickly, wounds heal well. the main objective– formation of the crown, removal of broken and dried branches during the winter. Winter pruning is especially necessary in the first four years after planting, when skeletal branches are formed. The optimal time for spring pruning is from the beginning of winter to the beginning of spring.

Extreme sensitivity to low temperatures makes zinnias annual plants, which are usually grown through seedlings. But there is nothing complicated about sowing and growing young zinnias. They are hardy and low-maintenance plants that are easy to grow from seed. And if you also collect your own seeds, you will get one of the most “economical” summer seeds in your collection. Bright baskets of inflorescences color the garden with a special cheerful canvas.

The domestic market offers a wide range of cucumber hybrid seeds. Which varieties to choose to get maximum yield? We have identified the best hybrids, according to Agrosuccess seed buyers. They were “Merengue”, “Zozulya”, “Masha” and “Director”. In this article we will tell you about their advantages. Since absolutely all cucumber hybrids have no disadvantages: they do not turn yellow, have many ovaries, the fruits are not large, and are resistant to diseases.

Eggplants are tall, upright plants with broad leaves. dark green and large fruits - create a special mood in the garden beds. And in the kitchen they are a popular product for a wide variety of dishes: eggplants are fried, stewed and canned. Of course, to grow a decent harvest in middle lane and further north is not an easy task. But subject to agrotechnical cultivation rules, it is quite accessible even to beginners. Especially if you grow eggplants in a greenhouse.

Lenten charlotte with apples and cinnamon on vegetable cream is a simple pie that is suitable for fasting people; this pastry can also be included in vegetarian menu. There are situations when dairy products need to be replaced with plant-based ones, then housewives come to the rescue vegetable cream prepared from vegetable fats. The taste of cream goes well with apples and cinnamon, baking powder makes the dough fluffy and airy, the pie turns out simply delicious.

Buying a blooming orchid, lovers exotic plants They are wondering whether it will bloom just as well at home and should we expect it to bloom again? Everything will be - and grow, and bloom, and delight long years, but on one condition. As for any indoor plants, for an orchid, you must initially try to create conditions acceptable for growth and development. Sufficient lighting, humidity and air temperature, special substrate - the main points.

Noble lush greenery, unpretentiousness, and the ability to purify the air from dust and pathogens make nephrolepis one of the most popular indoor ferns. There are many types of nephrolepis, but any of them can become a real decoration of the room, and it doesn’t matter if it’s an apartment, Vacation home or office. But only healthy, well-groomed plants can decorate a room, so creating suitable conditions and proper care- the main task of flower growers.

Correct herring under a fur coat - layers in turn, the order of which determines the taste of the dish. It is important not only to put fish and vegetables in a certain sequence. Great importance has also the preparation of products. Never cook vegetables for this appetizer the day before; overnight in the refrigerator they will lose some of their flavor and become bland. Cook the vegetables 2-3 hours before cooking and cool them until room temperature. You can also bake carrots, beets and potatoes in the oven in foil.

Experienced gardeners always have crystalline iron sulfate, or ferrous sulfate, in their garden medicine cabinet. Like many other chemicals, it has properties that protect horticultural crops from numerous diseases and insect pests. In this article we will talk about the features of using iron sulfate to treat garden plants against diseases and pests and about other options for its use on the site.

Many people cannot imagine their diet without ripe delicious tomatoes. Moreover, the variety of varieties allows you to choose the one that suits your taste the most. There are varieties that are called salad varieties, that is, they are best consumed in fresh. These include the Honey tomato, whose name speaks for itself. In 2007, the Honey variety was included in State Register RF. “Agrosuccess” offers seeds from the best breeders in the world that have undergone additional testing

Retaining walls are the main tool for working with complex terrain on a site. With their help, they not only create terraces or play with planes and alignment, but also emphasize the beauty of the rockery landscape, the change in height, the style of the garden, its character. Retaining walls allow you to play with raised and lowered areas and hidden areas. Modern dry or more solid walls help turn the disadvantages of the garden into its main advantages.

This type of screed has several important advantages compared to other analogues. The first and very important thing is environmental cleanliness and the absence of components harmful to the human body. The second is the low cost of making the screed, which is 70% made of sawdust, which usually costs “a penny” or is even given away for nothing. Third is the ability of such a screed to retain heat. In this case, additional insulation may not even be needed.

The technology of such a screed consists of two stages or layers. The first one is designed to retain the aforementioned heat, and the second one is very durable and abrasion resistant.

For the first, the solution is diluted according to the following recipe - one part cement, two parts sand and six parts sawdust. For the second - one part cement, two parts sand and three parts sawdust.

Another advantage of this solution is the absence of so-called freezing, which is characteristic of traditional cement screed.

Use of sawdust in the production of building materials

Typically in this industry sawdust is combined with cement. As a result, you can get, for example, the so-called sawdust concrete, which is ideal for the construction. In addition to the two constituent elements, water is also used in the production of these building materials.

The advantages of sawdust concrete are the high levels of sound and heat insulation provided by the use of sawdust. This material is non-flammable, helps maintain a healthy microclimate in the room and is prepared from four parts of sawdust, which are first poured in for half an hour hot water, and one part of cement.

Arbolite is another durable building material that is made from sawdust or wood shavings. It has excellent thermal insulation properties, and is also available in two formulations - traditional (with cement) and budget (cement is replaced with clay or ordinary lime).

It is also non-flammable and resistant to low temperatures and rotting, but, unfortunately, not moisture resistant.

Wood blocks are another very interesting solution for using wood products in the production of building materials. They are made using sawdust itself, as well as cement and copper sulfate. Wood shavings are impregnated with the latter, which are then dried and mixed with cement in a ratio of 1 to 8.

At the same time, modern demand for Construction Materials remains on the side of traditional bricks, which, although quite expensive, are still synonymous with quality and reliability for Russians. But even here, construction materials from sawdust will always find a place for themselves - they can be used to build utility buildings, non-residential buildings and much more.

When used correctly, waste from sawing wood (sawdust) increase the fertility of any soil, making its composition not only balanced in microelements and nutrients, but also more friable.

Thanks to this, plant roots grow deeper into the soil more easily and receive more nutrients from the soil, as well as oxygen and nitrogen from the air.

In addition, sawdust is also well suited for making a soil mixture, which is used for growing high-quality seedlings.

So, why do they sprinkle sawdust on the beds, is it possible to add them painlessly, and what does it give in general?

Wood sawing waste contain many useful substances, which increase soil productivity.

After all, all these substances extracted from the earth are integrated into cellulose, which makes up wood.

In addition, during decomposition, cellulose breaks down into glucose, which plants need for growth.

Another useful quality wood waste – change in soil structure, which is especially important for clay soils.

After all, the looser the soil, the easier it is to soak it aqueous solutions of fertilizers and microelements, and the roots penetrate the soil more easily, creating a more powerful root system.

Sawdust is used both as a single-component fertilizer and in a mixture with:

manure;
litter;
humus;
sand;
lime;
mineral fertilizers;
microelements.

Read more about preparing fertilizers from sawdust.

But it is worth considering that in addition to the undoubted benefits, sawdust can also cause significant harm if used incorrectly. But we will talk about this below.

Caring for seeds and seedlings

Wood sawing waste can be used to germinate seeds and grow seedlings.

Moreover, the seeds are germinated in clean rotted sawdust of high humidity.

Their advantage over other methods of seed germination is that wood waste is similar in structure to soil.

The seed produces a root and stem due to internal reserves of nutrients, and sawdust provides the root with the opportunity to produce shoots that penetrate into the soil.

Thereby the root system develops quickly and takes the desired shape.

During transplantation, the loose structure of wood waste allows the root to be removed without damage, thanks to which the seedling quickly takes root in a new location.

Germination in sawdust produces the greatest effect when the seedling is placed in a soil mixture containing, in addition to soil, peat and rotted waste from sawing wood.

Mulch

Used for mulching various materials, including sawdust.

The main advantage of sawdust is that it shipping is cheaper than purchasing any other materials.

The only exception is mulch from grass plucked or mowed from your own area.

Mulching with rotted waste from sawing wood has little effect on the microclimate in the soil, because no active processes take place in the waste.

That is why you cannot mulch with fresh sawdust, because bacteria that break down cellulose consume nitrogen from the soil and release various substances that increase soil acidity.

Mulching reduces the plants' need for water, because a layer of mulch separates the soil from the air and prevents moisture evaporation.

Thanks to this, plants less need for watering and problems caused by excessive moisture in the top layer of soil do not appear. In addition, the less the plant is watered, the less water gets on the leaves.

If the beds were mulched in the spring, then after harvesting, applying manure or litter and various fertilizers they need to be dug up or plowed. Thanks to this, the soil will receive a portion of balanced fertilizers, and sawdust will make its structure more loose.

You can read more about all these issues in the article.

Weed control

For many beds and greenhouses weeds represent serious problem , because even in imported soil their seeds are found.

In addition, many weeds release seeds into the air, which causes them to fly over long distances and germinate in any soil.

Chemical methods of control are not applicable, because it’s difficult to treat weeds without disturbing them useful plants, and it is very difficult to pull them out by hand.

That's why good way to combat such pests - put sawdust.

Layer of wood waste 10–15 cm thick prevents the germination of weed seedlings, after all, at this stage, seedlings can grow only 2–5 cm thanks to the energy reserves in the seed. For further growth, they need both nutrition from the ground and solar energy, the supply of which is blocked by a layer of mulch.

The type of wood does not matter, the only condition is that the waste must completely rot, otherwise it will acidify the soil and draw nitrogen out of it, which will negatively affect plant growth.

To protect the beds or greenhouse from weeds, mulch must be sprinkled in several stages:

At the first stage (immediately after planting the seedlings), the thickness of the layer should be such that the mulch does not reach the bottom sheet a little.
After the plant has taken root and resumed growth, add another layer of mulch.
The third bedding is done together with trimming the lower and unnecessary leaves (stepping). During the third addition, the layer thickness is adjusted to the required level.

Slug protection

The leaves of many plants provide food for various slugs and snails, which eat and damage them.

Chemical control methods (including the use of tobacco) are not always applicable, so gardeners and greenhouse owners are forced to look for other ways to protect plants from these pests.

One of these methods is mulching with sawdust.

After all, the surface of the mulch is filled with sharp, protruding fragments, which is why it is difficult for slugs to move on them.

This makes wood mulch more effective in controlling slugs and snails than mulch made from grass clippings or grass.

After all, grass, even dried grass, is more convenient and familiar to slugs than a layer of sawdust.

Therefore, beds and greenhouses mulched with sawdust reliably protected from slugs and snails, and this protection prevents the germination of weeds, and after autumn and spring digging/ploughing, it will improve the soil structure and fill it with substances necessary for plant growth.

Is it possible to pour fresh sawdust?

Why are the beds sprinkled with sawdust at all and why is it believed that fresh sawdust can harm the plantings?

To answer this question, you need to understand - what processes are taking place in fresh sawdust and how they affect the soil and plants.

Fresh wood waste consists of cellulose and various resins, into which the juices that nourish the tree trunk are converted.

When the humidity of the waste exceeds 30–50%, aerobic bifidobacteria and various fungi begin to multiply in them, which convert cellulose into glucose, carbon dioxide and water.

By eating wood, these fungi and bacteria also consume huge quantities of nitrogen, some of which they obtain from the air. However, there is not enough nitrogen in the air, so microorganisms pull it out of the ground, on which sawdust is poured.

This leads to a decrease in the level of nitrogen in the soil, which reduces soil fertility, because nitrogen is essential for the development and growth of any plant.

Besides, microorganisms secrete various acids, which penetrate the soil and increase its acidity. This is good on alkaline soils if they are going to grow cucumbers, tomatoes and other plants that love acidic soil.

However, on neutral and acidic soils this will lead to excessive acidification and loss of yield, as well as to frequent plant diseases.

In addition, as sawdust rots, it heats up and heats the surrounding soil. This effect is used for heating the soil when seeds and seedlings are planted early in greenhouses or open ground, however, there the rotting wood waste is separated from the soil in which the plant grows by a layer of earth.

Therefore, you cannot pour fresh sawdust onto the garden bed or into the greenhouse, you have to wait for them to rot. This applies to both the bottom layer of mulch and subsequent layers.

The exception is adding wood waste to the paths between the beds, because they will be separated from the ground by a layer of rotted sawdust and will not be able to affect the soil. If you are going to completely dig up not only the beds, but also the paths between them, then it is advisable to let them completely rot, because fresh waste will negatively affect the soil.

Filling between beds

Despite the fact that the paths between the beds are not used for planting, sprinkling them with fresh sawdust will reduce the yield of the beds.

After all groundwater, which transfer microelements and nutrients between individual soil particles, even with low humidity will lead to entry of some acids and outflow of nitrogen from the beds.

The exception is the top layer of mulch, separated from the ground rotted wood waste.

In greenhouses it is difficult, and sometimes it is impossible to completely plow the soil, therefore the use of fresh wood sawing waste in top layer mulch on paths is justified.

However, where the entire area is regularly plowed or dug up, fresh sawdust cannot be used.

After all, once in the ground, they will reduce nitrogen content and increase soil acidity, which will negatively affect productivity.

Therefore, even for filling paths between beds, it is advisable to use prepared (rotted) sawdust.

Preparing the mixture for addition in the spring to a greenhouse or open ground

The preparation method depends on how and when you plan to use the sawdust.

If time permits, the easiest way is to dump them in a large pile on the ground and pour the solution generously, consisting of warm water and litter or manure in a ratio of 1:50–1:100.

For every cubic meter of sawdust, you need to use 100 liters of this solution.

Manure and droppings activate bacteria and fungi, which will ensure the rotting of wood waste and the whole process will take 1–2 years. If you water clean water, then the process will take 2–4 years.

Such sawdust can be used for:

mulching beds;
adding to the soil mixture for growing seedlings;
seed germination;
protecting plant roots from frost;
plant nutrition.

If you are going to make complex fertilizer from sawdust, then you need to mix it with droppings or manure and leave it to rot.

Such humus is a higher quality fertilizer than rotted waste from sawing wood alone, due to the fact that it contains many different useful substances, and the structure is close to the structure of chernozem.

To speed up the decay process add drugs that accelerate the growth and reproduction of bifidobacteria. In order to reduce the acidity of the finished fertilizer, slaked lime, dolomite flour or wood ash are added to the mixture.

Preparations that accelerate the growth of bacteria can also be used on clean or watered wood sawing waste with a solution of manure/droppings.

However, even with the use of bacteria the process will take at least six months for deciduous trees and for coniferous trees.

If you need to quickly turn sawdust into rotted sawdust, then you need to process it:

an aqueous solution of humus or droppings in a ratio of 1:20 at the rate of 100 liters of solution per 1 m3 of wood waste;
urea solution 1:100 (10 l per 1 m3);
slaked lime or dolomite flour (50–100 g per 1 m3);
a drug that accelerates the proliferation of bifidobacteria (the dosage indicated on the package is multiplied by 2).

Video on the topic

This video talks about how you can use sawdust in garden beds:

Conclusion

Wood sawing waste can be very useful material for fertilizing the soil in beds and greenhouses, however, their improper use can not only destroy the crop, but also make the land infertile for several years.

After reading the article, you learned: