I get the appeal of sawdust, but honestly, I’ve had mixed results with it. Maybe it’s just the stuff I can get around here, but sometimes it compacts too much and doesn’t let things breathe. I actually prefer shredded cardboard—yeah, it’s a bit more work to prep, but it absorbs well and breaks down faster than you’d think. Plus, no weird smells or surprise seedlings. Leaves are great if you’ve got the right kind, but I’d take a bag of torn-up Amazon boxes over a pile of maple any day.
Yeah, I hear you on the sawdust. It’s kind of hit or miss depending on what you can get your hands on. Around here, the stuff from the local mill is super fine and just turns into a mat after a week. I’ve had to dig out a whole bin before because it basically turned into a brick—definitely not ideal for airflow or composting.
Shredded cardboard’s a solid call. I started using it after running out of sawdust one winter, and honestly, it surprised me. It holds moisture way better than I expected, and it doesn’t clump up the same way. Only downside for me is the prep—my hands are usually wrecked from work, so tearing up boxes isn’t my favorite weekend activity. But if you’ve got a decent shredder, it’s a game changer.
Leaves are weird. Sometimes they’re perfect, sometimes they just sit there and refuse to break down. I tried using a bunch of oak leaves last fall and ended up with a layer that just wouldn’t compost, even after months. Maple’s even worse for me—turns slimy if it gets too wet.
One thing I’ve noticed with cardboard is you have to watch for tape and those little plastic windows. I missed a few and ended up picking bits out of the finished compost. Not a huge deal, but kind of annoying.
I’ve also tried mixing in some wood chips from time to time, just to keep things loose. Not as absorbent as cardboard, but it helps with airflow if you’re worried about compaction. Plus, no weird smells, which is always a win.
Funny how something as simple as what you use for cover material can make or break the whole dry loo setup. It’s all trial and error, I guess.
That’s a good point about the tape and plastic windows—those things sneak through no matter how careful you are. I’ve had to fish out more than a few random bits from the pile. Honestly, I’m still a little wary of using super fine sawdust for exactly the reasons you mentioned. Once it mats down, it’s almost impossible to get airflow back in without making a mess.
I’ve had better luck mixing a bit of coarse mulch in with whatever cover material I’m using. Not perfect, but it keeps things from turning into a solid block. One thing I’d watch for with wood chips is splinters—learned that the hard way when I wasn’t wearing gloves. Safety first, even with compost, right?
Yeah, splinters from wood chips are no joke—been there, done that, and it’s not fun digging one out later. I’ve found that wearing those cheap nitrile gloves helps a bit, but sometimes I’ll double up if the chips are especially rough. For airflow, I started layering in some shredded cardboard between the mulch and sawdust. It breaks up the clumps and seems to keep things looser. Still get the odd bit of tape sneaking in, though... guess that’s just part of the process.
Tape sneaking in drives me nuts, too. I started picking out the obvious bits before shredding boxes, but there’s always some left behind. Shredded cardboard really does help with airflow, though—I noticed way less clumping and everything breaks down faster. I’m still experimenting with different mixes, but so far, adding a handful of straw on top seems to cut down on odor, too. Not sure if it’s the best method, but it’s working for now.