Thanks Ken. I should have specified that while I used the word screen, I searched for hardware cloth, and wire mesh, and screen. None in 3/8" except one source with stainless for $78/sq ft.

Can anyone comment on the perlite?

Brent - See the post in the container gardening forum that was posted by goodhumusman on 2-26-09. It is a good read for anyone trying to make the 5:1:1. I use course perlite that I have ordered on Amazon. I am trying to get the mix made myself for my containers. I want to do it right the first time also. Good luck to you and your garden.

I just use ordinary perlite I find at my local garden center. It is moderately coarse but still needs to be sifted. There is a lot of fines and dust included - pretty much inevitable with an easily crushable mineral. Make sure you use a mask when sifting!!

And I would also add that you do not need to be absolutely precise with proportions or with the size of ingredients. I've been making the 5-1-1 mix for over 20 years and each batch is slightly different than the previous :-) Being close will be fine.....and still heads and shoulders above any prepackaged mix!!

Thanks Patti, I've already read it, and another 100+ threads all over the web just on soil lol. My heads spinning. I know what size it "should" be, but I've seen Al say to someone that they should get whatever they could in bulk when they didn't have any cheap options. Do you recall which brand from Amazon you had success with?

Thanks gardengal! I picked up some nice pine bark at Menards today along with 1/2 screen. A lot of the bark is too big, but I could easily crush it in the bag so getting it to the proper size shouldnt be too difficult. You're answering so many of my questions I'm going to have to start paying you!

Happy to help out!! I've been doing this a long time and Al and I have had a long online association as well :-)