Hey everyone, I'm a new gardener and I'm planning to build some garden beds soon. I was curious if using kiln dried pine shavings as the first layer in the bed would be a good idea. We already have the shavings from our guinea pigs, which means there might be some droppings mixed in. Is that safe and beneficial?
3 Answers
Using kiln dried pine shavings is actually a solid idea! The guinea pig droppings will contribute some nutrients. Just keep in mind that you'll want to compost the shavings first since they can temporarily absorb nitrogen from the soil. Have fun with your beds and enjoy gardening!
If you make your raised beds with open bottoms, you can keep them to a height of about 10-12 inches. I suggest checking with your local garden store for organic raised bed soil, which is usually a combo of compost and loam. Also, consider starting a compost pile for your garden waste and guinea pig droppings. It can really help nourish your bed over time!
Be careful with just wood shavings. They can take a long time, usually 1-3 years, to break down into usable soil because they lock away nitrogen during that time. However, if you compost them and keep them moist, you could get usable soil in just 6-12 months. Just something to think about!
Got it! I noticed people using old logs and firewood in their beds, so should I just stick to soil in my garden beds?