Wood fines in compost or living soil?
- Thread starter kkt3
- Start date
MustangStudFarm
Well-Known Member
Sorry about the Copy&Paste... Conifer trees
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/composting-pine-needles.htm
Many people avoid using pine needles in compost because they think it will make the compost more acidic. Even though pine needles have a pH between 3.2 and 3.8 when they fall from the tree, they have a nearly neutral pH after composting. You can safely add pine needles to compost without fear that the finished product will harm your plants or acidify the soil. Working pine needles into the soil without composting them first may temporarily lower the pH.
Another reason why gardeners avoid pine needles in compost is that they break down very slowly. Pine needles have a waxy coating that makes it difficult for the bacteria and fungi to break it down. The low pH of pine needles inhibits the microorganisms in compost and slows down the process even more.
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/composting-pine-needles.htm
Many people avoid using pine needles in compost because they think it will make the compost more acidic. Even though pine needles have a pH between 3.2 and 3.8 when they fall from the tree, they have a nearly neutral pH after composting. You can safely add pine needles to compost without fear that the finished product will harm your plants or acidify the soil. Working pine needles into the soil without composting them first may temporarily lower the pH.
Another reason why gardeners avoid pine needles in compost is that they break down very slowly. Pine needles have a waxy coating that makes it difficult for the bacteria and fungi to break it down. The low pH of pine needles inhibits the microorganisms in compost and slows down the process even more.
greasemonkeymann
Well-Known Member
any and all wood products that aren't composted will sequester nitrogen as they breakdown, then they also produce a lil heat as well.
You want to compost those in your pile first, and if I may make a suggestion, "charge" them with urine or a nitrogen heavy tea.
that will accelerate the process, and NO it won't smell.
just piss in a bucket, add 3 to 4 gallons on top, then soak the wood in that overnight
OR when you assemble your compost pile, layer a nitrogen heavy amendment right on top of the wood.
wet alfalfa, grass clippings, guanos, fish meal, all that will work
iHearAll
Well-Known Member
I've been using horse manure in my compost lately. The manure has a fair amount of sawdust and wood shaving in it. I have noticed the sawdust brakes down far slower than the rest of the materials, including leaves. So, when i mix soil with this compost, i skip a proportional amount of my normally added carbons. Works well with no noticeable pH problems. Same goes for when i turn a raised bed.
whitebb2727
Well-Known Member
We have some huge pines here. Some are upwards of 70-100 ft tall. I use pine needles for mulch and in my compost.
I noticed that where the needles naturally collect, they breakdown good. I dug down and got that bottom layer that was broke down. I mixed that into my compost.
I have no articles or evidence to cite it. I'm going by what I've seen. I think that once the microbes get going in the pine, they compost good.
If that makes sense. Like if it was a new pile it would sit forever. Get the good stuff from existing pine compost and it breaks down faster. I also mix it with other stuff so its not just pine needles.