sawdust

Work for what? As ground cover it could conserve some moisture, but for soil it will use up N in the decay process as well as release the tannins if oak, for example. Other species have differing issues, depending on what they are, the general soil composition (pH) already and what is being mulched.

In general raw, fresh material would likely not be beneficial...unless you're trying to control weeds or the like in an area.

So, any suggestions for something I could do with it? So far, it looks like the only alternative is to shovel it into the garbage bins

It may be worth a few $$$ for people with horses, to be used as bedding. But there are a few trees that are toxic to horses, such as walnut. Tell us what the tree was.... If it's safe, post it on craigslist (free or cheap)

I am fixing to do the same thing and my thought was to just spread it around to put some organic material back into the sand

Source of a that high fiber diet that every wanker doctor naggs about.

Fire up the riding mower (full rpm), engage the mower deck and make several passes over the piles. Toss some grass seed on the bare spots when your done. Easy-peasy.

The consensus has been that is not a good idea. Wood tends to USE nitrogen when breaking down and effectively steals it from plants in the area. One place suggested adding nitrogen and then using it as mulch but that seemed to be a bit more work than I wanted to undertake.

On 03/09/2017 7:37 AM, Kurt V. Ullman wrote: ...

Here's a link to a guy who's written out what I summarized before along with some suggestions for how to try to make use of it if you really want to...he even mentions the walnut issue specifically as well; I couldn't think of the specific toxin and didn't take time to look it up then.

Give it to the boy scouts to make firestarters. Wax and dust in a cupcake holder.

Make a bunch yourself and sell.

IDK much about horses, but I do know that stump grindings are different than sawdust or wood chips. Stump grindings typically have dirt, stones, rotten wood mixed in, because they grind up everything down to the earth and below. I have a partially wooded lot and I'd just spread that stuff out in the wooded area. If it's mostly clean, could be used for mulch, but I haven't seen stump grindings that were clean and wood chips like that aren't particularly attractive to use in landscape areas that you want to look good. And if it has dirt mixed in, it will allow weeds to grow.

spread it thin and it's ok.

people who use too much and mix it in the garden soil are those who will see a reduction in available N for some period of time (until the soil community deals with it) but after it has been partially decayed then the N will come back.

too much on top is an issue not for the reduction in N but the commonly observed problem of sawdust forming layers which repel water.

songbird

Houses the same bug that will eat the framing on your house. Don't put it too close.

Thanks. Found a Boy Scout who uses sawdust to make fire starters. He is in heaven (grin).