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siege2050
03-16-2014, 03:59 PM
What is the best way to help the soil retain water, I live in Oklahoma and our soil is not the best there is, its kinda powdery and dry in the summer. There is a mill that gives away sawdust that is close by, is it okay to add it to the soil if it's decomposed?

cincinnana
03-16-2014, 04:16 PM
I use tons of wood chips from a tree service, same thing but bigger chip.
You might need to supplement nitrogen though. I do.
I would love to use saw dust, it seems that would be a good conditioner to till in.
AND it is free.
All the areas that I use chips have good soil.
Also many soil conditioners contain wood fines, the kind I use to make my soilless mix is pine fines.

siege2050
03-16-2014, 04:28 PM
I use tons of wood chips from a tree service, same thing but bigger chip.
You might need to supplement nitrogen though. I do.
I would love to use saw dust, it seems that would be a good conditioner to till in.
AND it is free.
All the areas that I use chips have good soil.
Also many soil conditioners contain wood fines, the kind I use to make my soilless mix is pine fines.

I am going to try to get the decomposed parts, I think the fresh wood binds up the nitrogen like you said. Might add some manure just in case its not broken down enough. They have huge piles of it out front with a sign that says free mulch, its pretty broken down looking.

cincinnana
03-16-2014, 04:30 PM
I am going to try to get the decomposed parts, I think the fresh wood binds up the nitrogen like you said. Might add some manure just in case its not broken down enough. They have huge piles of it out front with a sign that says free mulch, its pretty broken down looking.

Do they load your truck?

I am jealous .....you hit the jackpot.:08:

siege2050
03-16-2014, 07:01 PM
Do they load your truck?

I am jealous .....you hit the jackpot.:08:

Not sure but I doubt it, I better plan on it taking me a couple of hours to shovel lol

PR-Giants
03-16-2014, 10:51 PM
I am going to try to get the decomposed parts, I think the fresh wood binds up the nitrogen like you said. Might add some manure just in case its not broken down enough. They have huge piles of it out front with a sign that says free mulch, its pretty broken down looking.

I recently read tc labs recommend commercial growers use a 4:1 v/v sawdust and compost as a growth medium for plantlets.

siege2050
03-16-2014, 10:54 PM
I recently read tc labs recommend commercial growers use a 4:1 v/v sawdust and compost as a growth medium for plantlets.

That's interesting, free is as cheap as you get, and there is literally tons of it.

PR-Giants
03-16-2014, 11:05 PM
4:1 seemed like a lot of sawdust to me, but this was a multinational organization that's been doing tc's since 1990, so they probably know what works.

PR-Giants
03-16-2014, 11:31 PM
If you need to compost manure quickly, use black soldier flies.

Big maggots in your compost? They're soldier fly larvae | Oregon State University Extension Service | Gardening (http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/big-maggots-your-compost-theyre-soldier-fly-larvae)

The Black Soldier Fly How-to-Guide - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (http://www.ie.unc.edu/for_students/courses/capstone/13/bsfl_how-to_guide.pdf)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53981 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53981)

siege2050
03-16-2014, 11:36 PM
If you need to compost manure quickly, use black soldier flies.

Big maggots in your compost? They're soldier fly larvae | Oregon State University Extension Service | Gardening (http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/big-maggots-your-compost-theyre-soldier-fly-larvae)

The Black Soldier Fly How-to-Guide - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (http://www.ie.unc.edu/for_students/courses/capstone/13/bsfl_how-to_guide.pdf)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=53981 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=53981)

Ahhhhhhh lol!

siege2050
03-16-2014, 11:43 PM
They can reduce 30 tons of poo in 2 days, thats a lot of #!)$:ha:

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 05:18 PM
I am going to try to get the decomposed parts, I think the fresh wood binds up the nitrogen like you said. Might add some manure just in case its not broken down enough. They have huge piles of it out front with a sign that says free mulch, its pretty broken down looking.

be sure to mix it well. i got something like that years ago. it looked good,but halfway thru top dressing, all the plants started wilting.it was then that i realized it was too acidic.i just watered to flush it and saved them.still good stuff.but the free ones i got, didnt mix their piles often.hope your is better.

siege2050
03-17-2014, 05:48 PM
be sure to mix it well. i got something like that years ago. it looked good,but halfway thru top dressing, all the plants started wilting.it was then that i realized it was too acidic.i just watered to flush it and saved them.still good stuff.but the free ones i got, didnt mix their piles often.hope your is better.

It's not really sawdust anymore, looks like really rich topsoil. I guess it's pretty composted except for a stick here and there, its most likely oak, hickory, other hardwoods, but I wondered about that. Maybe I should add some lime? I am thinking about planting one of my Canna seedlings in it straight and seeing what happens.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55771&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55771)

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 06:12 PM
the stuff i was getting looked good to. it was just sitting in a pile to long. so anaerobic, and too acid.i dont know if yours is or not.but just mixing it befor you use it ,and check ph.thats what i do. like you said the price is right, free.

siege2050
03-17-2014, 06:13 PM
the stuff i was getting looked good to. it was just sitting in a pile to long. so anaerobic, and too acid.i dont know if yours is or not.but just mixing it befor you use it ,and check ph.thats what i do. like you said the price is right, free.


Yeppers, best to be safe.

siege2050
03-17-2014, 06:25 PM
There is no smell to it, so i am thinking acid, acid enough to kill bacteria.

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 07:28 PM
There is no smell to it, so i am thinking acid, acid enough to kill bacteria.

oh yea, no smell?i would have thought, you would smell woodsy soil smell, or sewer smell.i would check the ph, before adding to it

siege2050
03-17-2014, 07:33 PM
oh yea, no smell?i would have thought, you would smell woodsy soil smell, or sewer smell.i would check the ph, before adding to it

Nope no smell at all, the guy said it had been sitting for about 2 years.

cincinnana
03-17-2014, 07:37 PM
I am just tossing this out there......
For the truck lover like us.....:08: And you do have a new truck!!
I tape the holes in the tailgate so the material does not fall in the holes that are exposed. You will thank me in five years when your tailgate does not try to rust through because the material holds moisture.:)
I also bridge the gap between the tailgate and bed so material does not fall in and bind the mechanics :)

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 07:39 PM
that is odd.2years in a pile with no oxygen.and not smelling bad?

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 07:43 PM
I am just tossing this out there......
For the truck lover like us.....:08: And you do have a new truck!!
I tape the holes in the tailgate so the material does not fall in the holes that are exposed. You will thank me in five years when your tailgate does not try to rust through because the material holds moisture.:)
I also bridge the gap between the tailgate and bed so material does not fall in and bind the mechanics :)


.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/13230687864/" title="image by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/13230687864_98e8818b6a_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="image"></a>

congrats on the new truck.i see it is 39f there it is 31 here now.

cincinnana
03-17-2014, 07:43 PM
Nope no smell at all, the guy said it had been sitting for about 2 years.

OK stop....
My mouth is watering....:woohoonaner:

Abnshrek
03-17-2014, 07:57 PM
OK stop....
My mouth is watering....:woohoonaner:

You might be a Plant Freak if your Drooling over good dirt.. :^)

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 07:58 PM
Hey guys ......Where in Ohio are you?


Tried to delete that post ....pic did not load

siege, is from oklahoma, i am north of dayton,

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 08:08 PM
ft. loramie

siege2050
03-17-2014, 08:21 PM
that is odd.2years in a pile with no oxygen.and not smelling bad?

Nope, no smell, completely broken down though. He said lots of people come get it for their gardens. I drive by all the time on the way to town, its been there awhile lol

cincinnana
03-17-2014, 08:22 PM
ft. loramie

You are 2 hours north of Indiana /Kentucky split...
That is where my postage stamp is..:08:
Welcome to the Jungle....

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 08:34 PM
yep.

bengal tiger nanas
03-17-2014, 08:35 PM
and thank you for your welcom

siege2050
03-17-2014, 08:35 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55772&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55772&ppuser=17436)

cincinnana
03-17-2014, 08:42 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55772&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55772&ppuser=17436)

jeebus .....do not show that stuff ...I have pics to show of the glacial goodies I have been dealt..