Using sawdust Perth for mulching is a very common practice. This is an acidic material and this makes it a good choice for mulch for acid-loving plants such as blueberries. It is an easy and economical choice. You just have to take a few precautions to get the most out of this material.
How to mulch
Some individuals who use this material as mulch in their gardens have noticed a decline in the health of their plants. This has made them believe that the material is toxic to plants. But this is not the cause. This is a woody material that requires nitrogen to decompose. It is a biodegradable material and the process may draw nitrogen from the soil. This deprives the plants of an essential component making them weaker. This is why you should not incorporate the woody material into your soil as mulch.
Precautions when mulching with woody materials
The best way to prevent the loss of nitrogen when you use woody materials for mulching is to add some more nitrogen to your material before application. You should lay your material to a depth of one to two inches. Take care not to pile the material around tree trunks as this will encourage rot.
Woody materials can decompose at a fast rate and become compact. This means you will have to replenish it if you use it in your garden.
It is a fact that termites are attracted to wood because they eat its cellulose. Termites can wreck the structural parts of your home if they get into your property. You don’t want that and that is why you should use your sawdust carefully to avoid attracting termites into your home.
Does mulch attract termites?
You may have seen termites in your mulch piles. One thing you need to keep in mind is that mulch doesn’t cause termites. Termites don’t thrive in mulch piles as you may falsely believe. Termites pre-exist underground in moist environments. They make tunnels through the earth to get woody food products for food. Mulch can dry to the point of not creating a conducive environment for termites to stay. Termites in mulch are only possible if the pile is kept moist. A realistic risk is caused by piling your mulch too high to the point of providing a bridge over the treated foundation of your home and into your house. Large pieces of boards, wood or pressure-treated rail ties are more conducive to hosting termite nests than a pile of mulch.
Treating termites in mulch
Don’t spray insecticides directly into your mulch. The decomposing process of mulch is very important to the health of your plants. Insecticides will kill the beneficial microorganisms in the mulch and soil and this isn’t a great thing. Maintain a low sawdust Perth mulch buffer section from six to twelve inches wide around the perimeter of your property. This will stop termites from making bridges and getting into your home. Remove wood materials from around your home to avoid attracting termites.
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