I hate clay! Mulch with drywall ?

[orgt]

Here is a paper published by the state of Vermont that highlights the current research on using drywall for soil amendment. There is a section on agricultural uses. After reading this doccument perhaps your opinion on environmental concerns might be lessened.

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/23/22738.pdf

Thanks, nice paper. Results are a toss up though, see page 23...

For the record I'm all for recycling, we do that a lot ourselves. In this case it's better and safer done in a controlled environment with large (and very expensive) composting machines that can grind in the right amount of other materials with the drywall so as to avoid emissions of dust.

Remember also that for decades we were all told that there was no danger with pressure-treated lumber which was used by tons of gardeners and even playground manufacturers, YIKES! Now we know better, so I say, why not err on the side of caution, even more true when the are much easier and productive soil enrichment alternatives?

Anyway, I wouldn't mix drywall in my own soil, but it's a very personal choice, no doubt about it.

Great discussion.

 

[Doc_Bob]

After reading this doccument perhaps your opinion on environmental concerns might be lessened.

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/23/22738.pdf

They like it for use with clay!
Bob

 

[orgt]

Offer some tips, we can all learn.
Bob

Fill me in on your situation and I will be glad to help.

 

[RonR]

We have heavy clay here. I spoke to a landscape place 15 yrs ago and they said there were two solutions. Remove 12" of clay and backfill with topsoil, OR, add gypsum.

So for many years, I would spread a few hundred pounds of pellet gypsum on our 80x120 lawn. It MIGHT have helped, but it was not very noticable.

About 3 yrs ago, a buddy suggested that instead, I should add composted zoo doo, which he did for his lawn. That fall, we topdressed our lawn with 6,000 lbs of zoo doo and verticut while overseeding.

That made a world of difference. We did have some exotic weeds that we had to spray, but whereas before, walking across our lawn was like walking across concrete, now, you can feel the spring in the lawn.

Cost was very low, and it was easy to spread. This year, we spread another 2,000 lbs. Our lawn has never looked this good in the 20 yrs we've lived here.

I'd forgo gypsum and go for compost if I were doing it.

Ron

 

[Doc_Bob]

About 3 yrs ago, a buddy suggested that instead, I should add composted zoo doo, which he did for his lawn. That fall, we topdressed our lawn with 6,000 lbs of zoo doo and verticut while overseeding.

Who gave you the zoo doo? Cost if any??

Bob

 

[RonR]

We have a recycle place that gets the zoo doo, then composts it.

It wasn't free, but was cheap in my mind. About $20/ton. It was light and fluffly, didn't smell much, and REALLY made a difference.

Ron