Composted bark is a natural product that is used as a raw material for growing media
Bark is a natural product that is left over as a residual flow from wood production. For the production of composted bark, bark from pine trees is mainly used, including from the fine spruce and Douglas pine. There are two types of processes to produce composted bark. These are composting and aging. With composting, the material goes through a complete composting process. The end product is a stable product with a high percentage of a fine fraction. During aging, the material is hardly converted. This material is less stable, but does contain a higher percentage of a coarse fraction.
Western Europe
Composted bark has various fractions, from fine to coarse. Depending on the fraction, the composted bark retains much water or not. The coarser the bark, the more airy it is. Bark has a positive effect on the shrinkage sensitivity of substrate mixtures. It is a stable material and therefore also brings stability to the structure of mixtures. Substrates with composted bark are used in tree nurseries and cultivation of potted plants.
The composting of RHP-certified bark must be carried out under controlled conditions, in particular avoiding contamination with soil, among other things. The locations where the bark is produced must be regularly assessed for phytosanitary risks.
