Pine Bark Fines Substitute

12 years ago

I know the reccomended container mix calls for pine bark fines but when I ask for them at garden centers around my area,central VA Zone 7, they look at me like I'm crazy.

What is a good substitute?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

bgtimber75
12 years ago
Repti-Bark from Petsmart/Petco is what I use. If you have a lot of potting to do it doesn't make financial sense to use but for me it works well. Some say that the smaller bags contain smaller bark pieces but I haven't had a problem with the large bags.
Joe1980
12 years ago
If you don't wanna go broke, look for pine bark mulch. Pine bark fines does get funny looks, because most people haven't heard of that before. But, pine bark mulch comes in many different sizes, from chunky, regular shredded bark, to double shredded, or even triple shredded. I used to get mine from a nursury, in 2 cubic foot bags, for $5. It was great stuff, mostly fines, with some pieces that were bigger, that I just picked out. Unfortunately, they chose to stock huge flippin nuggets this year. So, I searched the web, and called ALL mulch suppliers who had pine bark mulch and asked about the size. I found one with double shredded, so I went this morning. It was just "ok", with quite a bit of larger, useless stuff, but also a LOT of fines mixed in. I filled two 55 gallon barrels for $12, and simply ran it through 1/2" hardware cloth to sort the fines out. I got about half of it as really nice fines, and the rest is going to be run through my mulching mower when mowing season is over (so I can sharpen the blades in spring). I will then put the shredded stuff in a pile to compost a bit until next year. By the way, it is in a pile right now getting started.

Oh, and a tip, if you choose to go this route, you'll most likely be shoveling out of a large pile. If that's the case, shove the top away, and go for the stuff towards the bottom. Naturally, the rain pushes the finer stuff towards the bottom, and it starts decomposing, making it ideal for what you need.

Joe
Related Discussions
Substitute shredded pine for pine bark?
Q
Comments (17)
I understand your frustration, Kathleen. I have been able to find all of the products (well, with some "authorized" substitutes) for the gritty mix, but have been unable to find the pine bark fines for the 5:1:1 mix. I can't find pine bark mulch or shredded pine bark mulch here. I haven't checked at Walmart, but according to Walmart's web site, my local Walmarts don't sell ANY sort of mulch, just various Miracle-Gro bagged products. None of the big box stores in my area have pine bark mulch; they do sell pine bark nuggets, but those, of course, are way too big. In fact, none of the nurseries in the area at which I have checked sell pine bark mulch, either - it used to be available, but I haven't seen it in the last few years. Shredded cedar mulch seems to be the mulch of choice around here - there's plenty of that! I haven't been able to find any sort of pine bark soil conditioner, either. I guess we both just live in the wrong parts of the USA to make finding the supplies easy - or even possible! And the cost of shipping if ordering supplies on line would be prohibitive - I can't even contemplate doing so because I don't have the $$$ to spare. I have read some posts where people say that the Repti-Bark can be used for both mixes, but this product is definitely not partially composted so I have my doubts that this is what Al meant should be used in his 5:1:1 mix. Here is a quote from a post Al made in 2009 in reference to the bark in this mix: I like bark best, and the best size for the 5:1:1 mix is sawdust to 1/4" pieces and partially composted, with most of the particles concentrated in the 1/16-3/16 size. I'm NOT suggesting you go out looking for bark that fits this description, but it will give you an idea of what works best. Sigh. Holly
...See More
How Fine Are Pine Bark Fines?
Q
Comments (2)
Take a look at this pic: The bark at 3,6, and 9 are from different suppliers and all suitable for the 5:1:1 mix. Even a little finer product would be just fine as well. The fir bark at the top is what I use in the gritty mix, and the mix in the center is the dry 5:1:1. Al
...See More
Substitute Turface in place of Perlite & More pine bark fines Q's
Q
Comments (6)
Bone meal breaks down so slowly in containers that you may as well call it ineffectual. I hope you'll consider using dolomitic (garden) lime in its stead, @ 1/3 - 1/2 cup/cu ft. How much blood meal you can/should use depends on a variety of things, chief among them being soil biota population level, which determine how rapidly the nutrients become available, and soil temperatures. Blood meal really encourages fungal growth in containers, but more importantly, it can be extremely difficult to manage in any media that contains a high % of organic materials; it breaks down very quickly & can burn easily; it also loses much of its N through volatilization (gas), and is very high in ammonium (ammonium toxicity becomes a major issue in soils below 55* or above 80*). High soil temperatures inhibit the conversion of ammonium to nitrate, and low temperatures exacerbate ammonium toxicity in organic soils at rates as low as 2 lbs/ cu yd. The cup (1/2 lb) suggested is enough to (by itself) supply maximum nitrification to more than 7 cu ft of soil (>55 gallons), and this doesn't take into account the added N from other sources. This makes the potential for extremely rapid delivery (and burn) very great, with no way to control the rate of delivery. Al
...See More
Pine Bedding vs Pine Bark Fines
Q
Comments (1)
That product is likely sapwood, so it wouldn't be comparable to bark fines (bark is more stable and will resist decomposition much longer). I won't say that you can't use sapwood for container gardening (see this study, for example), but I wouldn't substitute sapwood for pine bark in the gritty mix.
...See More
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
12 years ago
How close do you live to Virginia Beach? I remember helping someone from there finding suitable bark through my bonsai contacts. If you live near there, I'll figure out how you can get in contact with her.

Al
barryla61
Original Author
12 years ago
4-5 hrs from VA beach

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Curl-Leaf Mountain Mahogany, an Easy Evergreen

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Use it as an accent plant or mass it as a screen; this pine and spruce alternative is a hard worker in dry, cold climates

Full Story

PLANTING IDEAS Designing With Conifers: Layers of Texture for Your Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Sharp and prickly or fine like ferns, richly textured conifers bring unexpected interest to the landscape

Full Story

GROUND COVERS Ground Force: 10 Top Ground Covers for Your Garden

By Carol Bucknell Garden Design

Protect your soil from weeds and drought this summer with a living mulch of ground covers

Full Story

105

REMODELING GUIDES Linoleum, the All-Purpose Flooring Wonder

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Dashing in a rainbow of colors, able to be cleaned with ease and courteous to budgets everywhere, linoleum is a super choice for floors

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Combo: 3 Wonderful Plants for a Deer-Resistant Screen

By Le jardinet

Protect your privacy and keep deer at bay with a planting trio that turns a problem garden area into a highlight

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES How to Pick a Mulch — and Why Your Soil Wants It

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

There's more to topdressing than shredded wood. Learn about mulch types, costs and design considerations here

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The Weepers and the Creepers: 10 Intriguing Trees for Your Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Bring something a little different to your landscape with a tree that dives, twists or crawls

Full Story

KITCHEN DESIGN Goodbye, Island. Hello, Kitchen Table

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

See why an ‘eat-in’ table can sometimes be a better choice for a kitchen than an island

Full Story

164

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Pretty Trees for Patios, Paths and Other Tight Spots

By Frank Organ

Choose trees for their size, shape and rate of growth — or shape them to fit your space. Here's how to get started

Full Story

MATERIALS Raw Appeal: 9 Wonderful Ways With Natural Wood

By Katie Treggiden

Go with the grain and use minimally finished wood for gorgeous accent walls, artwork and more

Full Story

Pine Bark Fines Substitute

Comments (4)

bgtimber75

Joe1980

Related Discussions

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

barryla61
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Pine Bark Fines Substitute

Comments (4)

bgtimber75

Joe1980

Related Discussions

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

barryla61Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

barryla61
Original Author