eddiee

My property was logged 3 years ago. They set up a saw mill in 3 different spots in the woods to cut the logs into lumber. The areas are about 100'x100'. The nice thing is they used a dozer to clear the area so there are few stumps. I was planning on planting food plots in these areas this spring. The thing that concerns me is the oils from the saw dust. I will not be planting directly in the saw dust pile but right nearby. Has this area had enough time to overcome the contamination form the oils? I do not plan on doing a ph test since the test would likely be contaminated. What amount of lime and fertilizer would you recommend using. I was planning on planting red clover. Do you have any suggestions??

Eddie

Dan O.

Sawdust is infamous for consuming large amounts of nitrogen for decomposition. That's one reason why it makes poor mulch around trees. I would spread urea and 10-10-10 fertilizer on the sawdust. This will decompose it and should produce a good compost. The oil is more difficult to decompose. It will require a starter bacterial culture and large amounts of aeration. There are products on the market (oil gater) that you can inocculate the site with. I would then spread 10-10-10 fertilizer and urea if there is sawdust present. Use a garden tiller and work the soil/sawdust 6-8" deep. You will probably require more fertilizer and aerations for reasonable decomposition of the oil.

Was the oil of natural source or petroleum based?

Dan O.

timbercruiser

If possible I would take a box blade or dozier and push off the majority of the sawdust from the planting area. I would still check the ph.