Hi Amy, a few links below from web pages - one from NZ! Monika was on email
and - I still help as an editor with Zoolex - and they may help - but a lot
of info on wood chip is about keeping dry for firewood!!
I'd echo Stefs comments....I'd have thought Eucy bark was rather thin and
would not be much good as 'chips' or for bedding, but I really don't know.
And as Stef said, would the oils in Eucys affect soil bacterial growth?? Or
cause animal issues??
In Europe there are enough conifer plantations, of one species, that
particular bark can be specified, then you will know acidity etc as it is a
more uniform product.
Pure timber can also be sourced, wood chips rather than bark chips, and
they can be screened, keeping the fine particles out. This keeps it with
much more air, so less decomposition, better drying, longer lasting, less
labour replacing etc.
I would have avoided chips from any potentially hazardous trees - including
Eucys - just in case, so no yew Taxus for example. I'd also avoid horse
chestnut Aesculus, it is in Sapindaceae, the soapwort family, and has
saponins in the sap. When cut the timber will leach these saponins, it
looks like oil on any surface, and caused a few heads to itch trying to
find the oil leak....
Hope all this helps!!
open storage in bays:
https://charlestonlandscapesupplies.com/product-category/?category=Bulk%20Mulch
but better no leaching from rainwater with a cover and good aeration:
https://www.needpix.com/photo/1130302/barn-wood-stock-wood-chips-bark-mulch-sunbeam-mood-old-old-wood
this one has some useful information:
https://goodwoodnz.co.nz/maximise-mulch-storing-correctly/
and this information for hot climate regions:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjOlcfL8tbxAhUSCewKHWxjD34QFjAAegQIBxAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehartford.com%2Fsites%2Fthe_hartford%2Ffiles%2Fwood-chip-mulch-storage.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1Fy1XRSUrpDwb4hI_Y4gMs
Stephen Butler Curator of Horticulture Dublin Zoo (retired)
183, Palmerstown Avenue
Palmerstown
Dublin D20 AD83
Ireland
00353 87 75 69 818
On Tue, 20 Jul 2021 at 01:32, Amy Robbins <Amy.Robbins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi everyone
If anyone uses specific instrumentation to measure various parameters of
your bio-floor, I’d love to hear from you. For example, moisture, pH etc –
what are you using to measure these please?
Also, can anyone comment on the suitability of Eucalyptus as a bio-floor
material? Thanks in advance.
*Amy Robbins*
Deputy Curator, Mammals
Auckland Zoo
P:+64 27487 3914
www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
This email is confidential. If it is not intended for you please do not
read, distribute or copy it or any attachments. Please notify the sender by
return email and delete the original message and any attachments. We do not
accept responsibility for any viruses or similar carried with our email, or
any effects our email may have on the recipient computer system or network.
Any views expressed in this email may be those of the individual sender and
may not necessarily reflect the views of Auckland Zoo or Auckland Unlimited.
