A weird bedding question

[wolfy-hound]

I'm hoping this should go here, although it also concerns rat bedding.
With the amount of bedding I am going through, I hate the thought of filling the landfills with the aspen shred. If I put it in the yard as mulch, the smell should disappate easily, with a watering or two I am sure it would be gone. A few rat droppings should bother anything, they would break down organically. Same with the snake bedding right?
Second question pertaining to the same subject. Would rat bedding with the high ammonia from the urine kill grass or plants if it was put over them?
I am thinking of spreading it out in the side yard, and letting it dry and then watering it and all, before using it in the front. I have a mulched front yard as opposed to grass, and if it would kill grass or plants possibly I haven't any problem using it to put down the worst areas that grass keeps coming up.
What are thoughts on this idea? Too weird? Too nasty? Should I spray it down with like.. bleach first? Sanitizing agent instead?
Am I bizarre and hopelessly strange?
Wolfy

[Melicious]

Personally speaking, if you're going through a lot of bedding, as I have, switch to newspaper. It's cost affective and easy to clean.

[xdeus]

Personally speaking, if you're going through a lot of bedding, as I have, switch to newspaper. It's cost affective and easy to clean.

I believe he was talking about his rat bedding, and you can't use newspaper for those critters.

As far as what to do with it, you could use it as a mulch like you mentioned. The ammonia might kill existing grass if the concentration is high enough, however it will eventually break down and act as a fertilizer so don't count on it keeping the grass (or whatever else) from growing in the area that you spread it on. I've been placing mine in a composter and letting it break down before spreading it in my garden.

Oh, and I wouldn't use bleach. Not only will you kill any of the good stuff that breaks it down naturally, but you'll contaminate whatever soil you place it on.

[frankykeno]

Moved this to the Feeders forum as it's probably best put there as it's in regards to the keeping of feeder rats.

[Melicious]

I believe he was talking about his rat bedding, and you can't use newspaper for those critters.

Whoops. Sorry. I wasn't quite awake at that time...

[Bdadawg]

By the time the ammonia was high enough in the bedding for it to kill plants it would be killing the rats.

I used bedding in my garden all winter ... Id pour it on til it was 3 inches deep then pnce the whole garden was covered Id use a garden fork to spade it in (the bedding kept the ground from freezing). I think I spaded it under 3 times ... the last time I was scooping up 20-25 large nightcrawlers per forkful ... Last year I got a total of 3 worms for the whole garden.

I also use it in "worm bins". The worms eventually break it down but the wood takes a while. Ive been using Europen Nightcrawlers. Im going to get redworms and try to figure out another type to use as well.

I also have a compost "pile". It is 15'L X 4'W X4'D. It is going to be expanded again next week.

In order to kill an area you will probably need to spread it 3-4 inches thick. Dry wood will rob nitrogen from the soil so that in itsself would act as a growth inhibitor. If you put down a layer of darboard or newspaper first it will be more effective (at killing off areas).

And finally ... In city areas people have a hard time finding browns (dried wood is a brown). You can try posting in the gardweb composting forums ... Just post that you have free compost material and youll probably get people that will come pick it up for free. You can see that forum here.

Bryan

[wolfy-hound]

What an awesome idea! I didn't think of nearby composters. I know I will have more used bedding than I can use as mulch, as I only have a small property.
Thanks!
wolfy