Cedar sawdust and chips function as both mulches and soil amendments. But you might be avoiding cedar goods due to reports that they leach toxic substances, which in turn make their way to waterways in which they poison fish. It is also a frequent belief that substances in cedar stop seed germination and harm plants. There’s minimal evidence cedar sawdust and mulches are a threat to plants and aquatic creatures, but the insect-repellent and pathogen-inhibiting properties of cedar have been documented, according to Linda Chalker-Scott Ph.D. with Puyallup Research and Extension Center at Washington State University. Alleopathy Alleopathy refers to the release of poisonous substances that affect plants and animals. Plants in the Cedrus and Thuja genera include chemicals within their heartwood that protects the plants in decay. These very same substances, thujaplicin and thujone, inhibit bacteria and fungi and deter insects, like ants, cockroaches and beetles. These chemical compounds…
Cedar Sawdust & Mulch
