Stump grinding produces a lot of sawdust; if you’re not careful, cleaning up can be a real pain. Instead of throwing it away, though, there are actually a few things you can do with this byproduct. Let’s look at what to do with sawdust from stump grinding.
Use It as Mulch
One of the most popular uses for sawdust is mulch. It’s great for suppressing weeds and keeping moisture in the soil. Ensure you don’t use a thick layer, as it can smother your plants. Spread the mulch around plants and trees. You can also use the grindings to fill the stump’s hole.
Make Compost
Sawdust makes a great addition to compost. It helps add bulk and absorb excess moisture. Just mix it well so it doesn’t form clumps.
Use It as Animal Bedding
Sawdust makes excellent bedding for animals. It’s absorbent and comfortable and helps keep smells to a minimum. Sawdust is easy to clean but change it regularly, so it doesn’t get too wet. You also want to avoid letting ammonia build up, which can happen if the bedding gets too wet.
Make Fuel Pellets
You can make sawdust into fuel pellets, which you can use in pellet stoves and boilers. This is a perfect way to use all that sawdust and is environmentally friendly. You’ll need a pellet mill to make the pellets, but it’s worth it for the convenience.
Make Fire Logs
You can use sawdust to make fire logs if you have a fireplace. Add water to the bottom of a double boiler. Add vegetable paraffin wax to the top. Pour the wax into oiled bread pans and add two cups of sawdust immediately. Allow the mixture to harden.
Make Charcoal
Sawdust makes excellent charcoal. You need a large metal can with holes drilled in the side about three inches from the ground. Place a brick in the can.
Drill small holes into the lid of a can about half the size. Pour the sawdust into this can, leaving an inch of space at the top. Ignite the sawdust and place the lid on the can.
Place this can on top of the brick in the larger can. Burn until there is no more smoke. Cover the holes on the lid and allow the sawdust to cool. You now have usable charcoal that you can store in sealed bags.
Use It as Insulation
Sawdust makes excellent insulation. Mix with hydrated lime to repel insects and preserve the material. Sawdust does not provide enough strength to be the sole insulator. You will need to use half sawdust and half sandy gravel in a mortar mix.
Make Paper
You can use sawdust to make paper. Mix it with water in a blender to make a pulp. The thicker the pulp material, the heavier your paper will be. Add bleach if you want white paper.
Pour the pulp into a plastic bin. Use a mold and deckle to form the paper. These are two wood frames, one of which contains a screen. Use these to scoop the pulp out of the tub.
Transfer the wet paper to an absorbent surface to dry. Use a rolling pin to press any excess water out once the sheet begins to solidify.
Make Moldable Wood
You can use sawdust to make moldable wood. Mix it with some resin and water, and press it into molds. You can then use it for whatever you want.
In Conclusion
These are just some of the many uses for sawdust. There are many more ways to put it to good use, so don’t throw the sawdust away the next time you’re grinding a stump. Find an exciting project instead. You’ll also need to plant grass after stump grinding.