what city are you located in?

this is on amazon but you can likely find bark much cheaper locally http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Reptile-Bedding-Quarts/dp/B001F9AMW6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431376844&sr=8-1&keywords=repti+bark

Thanks. I actually have a pretty good local connection for the Reptibark. Would that be suitable for 5-1-1?

It will be difficult to find "anything good" at a Home Depot. The big box stores aren't selling anything good but the illusion of that. Once in a while there is something worthwhile but that is the tease that keeps people coming back. If it is actually something good, they will figure out a way to ruin it eventually.

Amazon covers a much wider range. Lots of crap but some amazing things too. The problem is freight cost. Something that is Prime eligible is usually something that is stocked at all the regional warehouses so they can get it to you quickly at reasonable cost. That frequently eliminates items that don't have wide appeal.

Pine Bark Fines is popular with garden fanatics like us but that isn't very many people nationally. Reptile Bark may be your best bet if you just need small quantities. The link provided by hsw is excellent as long as you just need a few bags. It works fine but is expensive per bag and the bags are small. Another thing to look for mail order is Orchid Seedling Bark.

It really depends on the amount you want. If you are urban and don't have a car, I'm guessing you probably don't need large quantities.Repti Bark is excellent for 5-1-1. Just pick the very largest pieces out and use them for topping.

I only need to make around 10 gallons of mix so the reptibark might be the best option at the moment.

Home Depot is awesome, I'm not sure why they're getting the hate. It may depend on where you live, but in CA, we're now getting some really great soils at HD -- Kelloggs has stepped up their game and HD now carries Dr. Earth. And huge bags of perlite.

I've made hundreds of gallons of 5-1-1 mix. Home Depot's standard Groundcover Bark by Earthgro are usable right out of the bag. Believe me, I've sifted entire pickup trucks of the stuff and Earthgro is solid. There's one brand that's better, but it's double the cost and only available at Armstrong.

Also, if you want something close to 5-1-1 but don't want to mix it yourself, Kellogg's Patio Plus in 1.5cft and Raised Bed and Potting Mix in 3cuft bales are really good. I'm switching everything to the big bales -- it's just easier and holds more moisture than 5-1-1.

I believe many of the mulches and soil they carry is regional. I will double check for those brands though. Thanks!

Here's the link to the stuff, you can check online if they have it: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Earthgro-2-cu-ft-Groundcover-Bark-88352185/100355687

Wow, it says my local HD has this in stock! What does the particle size look like? Any chance you could post a picture with a dime for reference?

I checked, THey don't have it.

They happen to have this rip off product though. 4 quarts for $9 lol

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-4-qt-Fine-Pine-Mulch-Resealable-Bag-MULCH3357FNPNE/203920297

That's annoying. Where do you live? There should be something similar for the right price.

As for particle size, it's right at what's recommended for 5-1-1. Some bags are better than others. I used to sift it with a 1/4" screen but now I don't bother.

HD and Lowes have a few things worth buying and if your local HD has Dr Earth that is a big step up from what I've seen in mine around here at the east end of LA county and just beyond. It could be worse, I can't imagine anyone being desperate enough to try to build something out of the garbage they call lumber or hardware! It is hit or miss but they usually eventually replace anything decent with cheaper junk while driving the regular suppliers out of business. I now have to pass a half dozen HD/Lowes to go 8 miles to a real hardware store.

GreenAll Micro Bark is about twice the price of that Dr. Earth product but twice as useful for 5-1-1 based upon the Earthgo I've seen. Maybe they've changed it since I've seen it. Most of it was too big for 5-1-1 with a lot of dust also. OF Wolfinbarger, who is near me and 5 miles west of Kellogg Garden, has much better for $40 a yard, which is 27 cubic feet. The major source of Kellogg's bagged products for planting is recycled sewage.

I think it is tough for anyone trying to learn how to make a proper 5-1-1 when you can't rely on a specific brand and item number to always be the same. I've seen total consistency over years in the GreenAll Microbark from Armstrong Garden and the same from the Reptile Bark widely available at pet stores and on Amazon. Getting at least one bag of the right product will help someone trying to learn. They should then be very careful to look at each bag they buy somewhere else to make sure it is the right product. Dust can be screened out if you are patient. Sapwood chips can be picked out if you are patient and there isn't too much. If someone has reached the point where they want 5-1-1 for container gardening, they are going to have it tough at the places that cater to the uninformed.

Hey Greg, GreenAll was the brand I was referring to. It's great. That said, I've gone through truckloads of Earthgro in the last year and the quality, while not as good as Greenall, is totally legit. The problem is HD has been out of the stuff, instead selling the recycled tire mulch until the last few months. Now it's back in stock, at least near me and I'm in Glendale.

As for Kelloggs, they've reformulated their product and no longer sell the sewage stuff. Check out the new Patio Plus and big bales of raised bed mix, it's really nice. All their potting mixes (including the Gardener and Bloome) are top notch for the price. I think they've been reading these forums because it's excellent organic bark-based soil. Miracle-Gro is absolute rubbish, as is any of their "Eco Scraps" and whatnot, but Kelloggs has really become excellent.

Of course, if you're buying by the yard, you're in a different game entirely :)

Jay,
Excellent info - Thanks!