It can be made to work....but you'll probably notice that the mix functions better in year two and beyond. Certainly that can be screened for Gritty Mix, and I think it'll be great....just a lot of work to remove the sapwood. I'd still remove as much sapwood as possible for the 5-1-1, and get the mix made pronto, so that the ingredients have time to bind....otherwise the mix could be a bit too porous and difficult to water initially.

Josh

Thats the biggest pieces in there . should i just get bigger pine bark to make sure..? Thanks

I think what Josh is getting at is the pieces are quite large - I don't think you need to get bigger pine bark at all (if anything, smaller). Cheers!

greenman, could you point out the sapwood in the photo, or describe it so I would know what to remove. I'm using Earthgro Groundcover bark.

The lighter almost white looking wood..It look entirely different than the darker color bark...)

Few pieces of sapwood circled - try to remove any you can, it is tedious...Otherwise bark looks quite good, while some pieces are bit large, but they can be broken or snipped into smaller pieces. Is there a list of ingredients on the bag - it would be good to know what trees are bark from. Best would be pine (or some other softwood), hardwood bark may not be as good:

It says pine bark mulch. And to me i thought the pieces were really small and really thin. But thats why i asked...lol.. Thanks again

Thanks, Rina. Yep, those lighter colored pieces are sapwood.

For the Gritty, you will need to screen the bark down to 1/4 inch, thus eliminating those larger pieces.

For the 5-1-1, all the bark (minus the sapwood) in your image will work.

Josh

Where do you live? If you are growing outdoors or indoors. Bark is difficult to get hydrated in a dry environment. Please provide where you are growing.

Jane

Louisville Ky

flevel, I just did a search on pine bark in your area. Try this place. Looks like a bulk mulch place. Explain to them what you want and they just might let you have a small bucket for experimenting. Yours can be made to work but it just might be too much work.

Thanks tropico

Im using it for japanese maples in containers which i know i cant grow those indoors .....thanks for everyone s advice and help..

I hate separating sap wood!!! Sometimes I get a bit obsessed, it's like I cant leave even the smallest splinter.

Rob

Yup, and just when you think you got every last piece, another shows up! Thank God I can go to Agway and get my composted bark for both the 1.1.1 and the 5.1.1 mixes...

I also have orchids growers in the area that provide 30 quart bags of non composted Fir bark, fine size..I guess I can count myself lucky to all the ingredients I need at my finger tips..I used the stuff you are dealing with until I found out every thing I needed was in driving range..