Any veg-garden uses for sawdust?

[bazzaboy]

I have access to a free almost unlimited supply of sawdust (from a local log-cutting firm) but apart from starting a hamster farm don’t know best uses for it (I don’t keep chickens…). I assume digging it in will deplete rather than add fertility to soil and understand it’s not best used as a mulch or for winter storage of root veg... Any suggestions or is it more trouble than its worth? b.

[Flummery]

I might be tempted to burn it - wood ash is brilliant around fruit trees and onions for example.

[vicky]

According to my uncle you can buy sawdust 'bricks' to put on the fire, not sure what would keep them stuck together though.

[Birdie Wife]

I sometimes sieve the sawdust that I use in my chicken houses, put the poop on the compost and the rest of the sawdust on the paths. It rots down eventually. It does tend to stick to the mud on your boots though!

[FB.]

I might be wrong, but I don't see why the use of sawdust is much different to adding twiggy material to the compost heap?...and some people throw wood and bark chippings onto their gardens as a weed-supressant and slow-nutrient release.
Sawdust will contain trace nutrients and should rot down fairly quickly. I might be hesistant to use it around trees - especially if the sawdust is from the same variety as it's being sprinkled around - just in case it's carrying fungal spores or other diseases that could attack the trees.

[Tam]

Sawdust is handy for using as a mulch around acid loving plants - blueberries for instance.

[NoWayPedro]

Its good for the compost especially if its wet looking. It will do the same job shredded paper does.

[Snadger]

I would think that any plant which originates in a wwodland setting should be ok mulched with sawdust. Fruit bushes particularily rasps should benefit. Small quantities added to the compost heap wouldn't go amiss. I use woodchippings on paths and after a season strip them off and add to beds.............sawdust could be used in much the same way.

Sawdust is great in a chook run where it absorbs poo similar to cat litter!

Burning to give ash as Flum mentions...........but a bit smelly. Putting in bin bags with a good sprinkle of sulphate of ammonia or chicken poo, damped down and sealed, should produce compost by autumn.

Some of the hardwood sawdust especially Oak, Hickory and Apple are good for hot or cold 'smoking' your produce also.

[bazzaboy]

Many thanks for all these useful tips - I'll try them all and report back. b.