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Princeton Kentucky

I have a Mighty Mac chipper shredder and this week I was running some limbs through it and noticed some old cardboard boxes I had in the barn worn out taking up space. I rolled them into logs like and ran them through the chipper hammer mill. Wonderful 1/4"-3/4" mulch. I can get truck loads of clean cardboard free for the hauling and so after surfing the web finding very little reliable first hand info, heres my question. Have any of you used shredded cardboard in your patches for fall placement of OM? Most of the glue used on the layers is starch based so the bugs will break it down ok and I do know most companys use Soy ink, it used industry wide I believe. I will add some greens and leaves to the mix so nitrogen will maintain somewhat and of course will really know with spring soil tests. What says you.

9/15/2013 11:32:26 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Iv always herd to stay away from it cause of glue.not only glue in layers. But was thinking the hole mix of cardboard is glue &paper sorta like partical board is made.

9/15/2013 1:03:12 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Could be yardman, still doin more reading myself at this point. Thanks for your input.

9/15/2013 6:40:04 PM

South Hero, VT

I would treat the cardboard as wood chips. Check out this article which is a great introduction to composting wood chips.

http://www.uaf.edu/files/ces/ruraldevelopment/publications/wood-fish-composting.pdf

9/15/2013 6:48:05 PM

Princeton Kentucky

WoW, Good Read VTSteve, Thanks. Like how it discusses paper

9/16/2013 5:57:34 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Did some digging on the process of making paper.think ill just stick with leaves.cause there chemical processes wich turn wood into pulp.inwich also theres loss of nutrients.kraftboard (what cardboard made of)doesnt seem to be as bad as paper since not bleached white.yes starch is used as a glue but it also said other chemicals&starch cuoldnt find other chemicals info tho.

9/16/2013 8:59:55 AM

Princeton Kentucky

Yardman. read the same thing, I may be talking myself into an entire isolated patch with cardboard shred mixed in at a 30% rate to begin with used with a less desirable proven seed. Thanks

9/18/2013 11:24:29 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Good deal.you know im always up for expeirements dont knock it till you try it

9/18/2013 9:23:28 PM