Many people only screen turface over a window screen (about 1/16"), mainly to get rid of the powder/dust. You may have ended up with a particularly bad bag, some have more dust and fines than others.

I use a 1/12" screen to get rid of turface fines, mostly because it's the sieve size I have that's closest to window screen.

Daniel

Thanks for the response.

Not to dismiss what you're saying, but I thought uniformity in particle size was part of why the mix works so well. Wouldn't 1/16" turface, fill the space between the 1/8" chicken grit? If the 1/16" works, I'm more than fine with not wasting :)

Not sure if it helps any, but I use the turface that passes through the screen for growing seeds/seedlings.

In my hot/dry climate I don't screen at all but mix it from bin to bin in the afternoon stiff breeze that blows any dust away. I do have to be practical as I buy it in 2000 lb super sacks.

Hmm. I was just basing the 1/8" screening on this thread.

I am in central TX, so perhaps I should consider keeping some of the 1/16" stuff for a little bit of water retention. Will be my first summer, and I imagine water needs are very high.

You should be screening the Turface at 1/16 (window screen). That's the advice that's almost always mentioned.

Particle size is important, and we'd all love a slightly larger Turface, but we make do with what's available. As long as you screen the bark properly, the disparity won't make too much of a difference.

Josh

I should be screening the bark at 1/4", correct?
Edit: to clarify, I SHOULD or CAN be using 1/16" for the turface?

Can use the 1/16.....should use the 1/16 if you don't want to waste more of the Turface.

Yes, bark at 1/4 inch.

Josh

There's no need to waste any leftovers that don't make the grade for container use... I mix it into my raised vegetable beds or pitch it in the gardens somewhere, working it in under the apple tree or a rose bush, etc... everything has a use. :-)

Thanks for the info! Mixed my first batch yesterday, looks pretty good.
Now I have to figure out how to break down about 5 quarts of pine bark that is over the 1/4" suggestion...