The ratio of pine bark:Turface:crushed granite is 1:1:1 by volume. To make 20 gallons of soil, obviously you'll need a little less than 7 gallons of each ingredient + 1.25 cup dolomitic (garden) lime.

$5/50 lbs is amazingly inexpensive for Turface MVP. Don't be surprised if someone made a mistake.

The coarse sand (1/16"+, not fine sand like builder's sand - more like fine gravel) works in conjunction with the Turface to adjust the water-holding ability of the soil. I keep the organic component at 1/3 or less in durable soils for longevity. Increasing the Turface component increases water-holding ability, while increasing the granite reduces water held.

A soil like
3 bark
2 Turface
4 granite
holds much less water than
3 bark
4 Turface
2 Granite
yet the organic component is the same.

Do I think you need the crushed granite? I think you could get by without it if you must - especially if you use a wick until the planting is well established. If you eliminate it, you would be using
2 Turface
1 pine bark
I have a dear friend in CA and she uses
2 Turface
1 fir bark fines
with good success, but her climate is hotter and much drier than yours.

Al

Thanks Al for breaking it down for me.
You where correct I just called again and the price quoted me for 50 lbs. of Turface was incorrect. They now told me it sells for $11 a bag. I going down tomorrow and get a few bags. Having trouble finding crushed granite. On the way there I have a few places in mind IÂll check out that might carry it.

I'm going to try this out on the one tree I have left to repot and remove some roots after I pick the many figs on it. They are coming in at least 5 a day now. If we had sunny weather I would most likely get more. It will be worth it just for the less frequent watering then I am now doing.

Again Thanks
Lou NE, PA