Compared to pine shavings, we found aspen was not quite as absorbent but still performs extremely well. How often will I need to clean out aspen bedding?

Acidic pH: Pine shavings have an acidic pH level, which can negatively affect the pH balance of the soil and harm sensitive plants. It is important to test your soil pH before using pine shavings and monitor it regularly. But did you know that cedar and pine toxins can negatively affect guinea pig's respiratory and liver systems? According to the article with references to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the acid given off by the softwood bedding can destroy cells that line the lungs and trachea of guinea pigs. Not only that, but the experiments have also shown that toxins from pine and cedar bedding for guinea pigs can also damage the liver of these small animals. However, I want to emphasize that on average, paper bedding outperforms wood shavings. The reason why I said "on average" is because not all of the paper bedding products are created equally. Some poorly made paper bedding is worse than even the best made aspen bedding. The moisture control, however, was on par with paper bedding at its best. The bacteria control was equal or slightly better than paper bedding only because fleece liners promoted a thorough daily spot cleaning (this is where you have to remove guinea pig poop and soiled hay daily). In a study commissioned by Bedmax but carried out independently at Nottingham Trent University in 2016, Dr Kelly Yarnell measured the survival of E. Coli in several different types of bedding. While E. Coli survived in significant quantities in straw, the E. Coli count found in pine shavings was below the minimum level of detection.

How to use Pine Shavings in Garden - C. Applying as a Top Dressing

As a mulch: Spread a layer of pine shavings on top of the soil around your plants. This will help retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth. Different brands of wood shavings will vary in quality so it’s important not to just opt for the cheapest one which may not be kiln dried or dust extracted. Even when the wood has gone through these processes, quality will vary depending on how thorough the manufacturer has been. They poop anywhere and everywhere, even as they roost at night, and their droppings are quite wet. To top it all off, they love to make even more of a mess. There is also some concern that pine shavings may contain harmful chemicals, such as phenols, which can be harmful to both plants and humans. However, more research is needed to fully understand the risks. Pine shavings are mediocre at drying out droppings, and they utterly fail at not breaking down. Pine shavings are organic, so they are definitely going to break down—and this is why you are able to compost them.

Pine shavings are an excellent choice for gardening as they offer many benefits to plants and soil. One of the significant advantages of using pine shavings is that they act as a natural weed repellent. It’s important to meet their most basic needs—clean, safe bedding, a large enough cage, water and fresh hay—before anything else. This is our duty as guinea pig parents. Safe and healthy guinea pigs with longer lifespans mean happy guinea pigs.However, it’s important to note that pine shavings can also be acidic. While this is great for acid-loving plants like blueberries, it may not be ideal for other plants. So, it’s important to test your soil’s pH levels before using pine shavings as a top dressing.