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    Home » Gardening » How To's

    Using Dry Wood Shavings in the Garden

    Published 24 May 2017 by Liz Gardner | Leave a Comment

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    Dry wood shavings are a good mulch to use for paths in the home vegetable garden and only need to be replaced, or added to every 2 to 3 years. This is a good way to recycle waste from the lumber industry.

    After logging - brush piles ready to be burnt
    Just logged forest
    Old brush pile
    Aged sawdust mulch can be an effective barrier to insect pests ...
    be sure sawdust has been aged for a year
     ~ Rodale's Garden Problem Solver 1988, Pg 264

    Reasons to Use Wood Shavings

    1. The new shavings are very light and bright which is an asset in the partly shady garden.
    2. Depending on original shavings thickness it takes 2 to 3 years for the shavings to darken and decompose before being replaced
    3. Dry shavings are very lightweight and are easy to move in and around the garden. For example 2 yards of dry shavings were spread in a few hours using a wheelbarrow
    4. Bugs and slugs don't seem to like the shavings
    5. Great weed control
    6. Dry pathways underfoot in heavy rains
    7. Pleasing to the eye
    8. Before putting down the new shavings I dug some of the previous mostly decomposed path shavings and re-used it as a mulch on the gardens
    Garden view from the top

    Notes:

    • Shavings and sawdust have no nitrogen but can be used on plants when mixed with organic material
    • If you use fresh shavings in compost use one part shavings to 4 or 5 parts kitchen waste or green clippings, i.e. high nitrogen organic matter
    • If you use fresh shavings or sawdust on vegetable or flower gardens as a surface mulch plants may become nitrogen deficient
    • They are a good base for a path or area you are going to cover with another mulch.
    • The shavings are mainly from spruce, birch, fir & pine and are mostly softwood
    Wet spring garden with dry paths
    Greenhouse mulched inside & out
    Inside greenhouse mulched path
    Lemon Balm peaking through wood shavings
    Newly mulched garden paths
    Wood shavings on path

    ... and more Notes :

    • Cedar is not included in the shavings
    • Use a mask when moving the sawdust
    • Shavings are reasonably priced and are about half the price of bark mulch
    • 2 yards of dry wood shavings go a long way in a small urban garden
    • We used dry shavings beneath cages in a small rabbitry and the resulting litter was used in the vegetable garden with excellent results
    • You can use coloured plastic products under any mulch but I prefer sawdust or shavings as its friendlier for the worms!
    "In regions where lumber is processed, wood-derived bedding
    might be the most economical type."
    Shavings are a good choice for horse bedding

     
    Garden paths with wood shavings
    Using dry wood shavings in the garden is a worthwhile, simple way to enjoy your home gardens. It is a reasonably priced product and is very functional so why not give it a try. For more information on mulching your gardens here is an article which outlines the many reasons to mulch as well as a great way to protect the soil.
    Happy Summer Gardening!

    Links & References:

    • Statistics and potential use of wood residues for energy generation
    • New products and by products of wood industry
    • Vegetable Gardening on a Steep Slope
    • What to grow in a shady garden

    More How To Garden Articles

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    Hi, I'm Liz! I have been a happy gardener all my life. My goal on this blog is to share tips and resources to help you learn how to garden too. Passionate about all things "healthy". Life long learner and asker of "how".

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