Do you have any Agway stores near you? They carry a pine bark mulch that is an almost ideal size for the 5-1-1. It may be that not all stores carry the exact same products but it is an Agway brand so they should be able to order some for you if they do not stock it.

They also carry the coarse perlite, peat and lime.

Hi, I'm from the Buffalo area, and I got my pine bark from Russels Tree and Shrub farm. Good price too. I got 2 large bags for under $10. Most of it was very usable for container planting. Barely had to sift through it.

i will go there

The products online at Russell's Tree and Shrub farm do not look to be small enough for 511. Which product did you actually purchase?

This is the agway product, sifted through a 1/2 inch screen on the right, larger than 1/2 inch on the left. Most of the contents of one 3 cf bag. Not much wasted at all. Pine bark mulch in the blue bag. The bark looks like chips rather than shreds.

Pine bark mulch is highly variable. Down here, at Lowes, the stuff is all big chunks and hefty strands. Not much would fall through an adequate screen. Certainly not what I would call "fines".

Saypoint, your Agway product looks great! Wow! If I could only find something like that!

Buffalo, there is no pine bark mulch listed under their products. Are you saying that they have it available but not displayed online?

daninthedirt, in my area one can find nuggets (too big) or mulch (quite shredded). Not found any fines. It's like it doesn't exist. I have to wonder if I am the only one making the 5:1:1 around here.