Thanks. Unfortunately all the new bags are like that. If I remove the larger pieces then I can use it?

Yes. It will probably be a bit more water retentive. You might want to eliminate some or all of the peat. Compare it to a previous batch of 5-1-1 and wing it from there.

Also, the big pieces are generally not super rigid, so they can be broken up and used. My last bag did not contain too many big pieces so I put the big pieces in my 1/4 sieve and mashed then up with a small piece of wood.

Bump. I want to hear if anyone else ordered this pine bark and if it's the same as it's always been or different.

There is a variation between bags. The last bag I sifted had more larger pieces greater than 1/2 inch. I usually always sift to between 1/8 and 1/2 first and then I add back a bit of the finer stuff depending on my mood really. So far I have not seen texture like your pics. Have you sifted them yet. That may be more useful.

Can you post a photo of the bag? Was it pine bark mulch? They have a few different types.

"Can you post a photo of the bag?"

Here's a photo:

That is the right bag. Guess you were a bit unlucky with batch that you got.

I recently sifted two bags and I got a bit more of the stuff larger than 1/2 inch than normal. Some were 3/4 and 1 inch in size too.

I just picked up some of this PBM. If I sift between 1/8 and 1/2, how do I know whether to add the finer stuff back? And how much? Thanks

I add one part of the stuff smaller than 1/8 to 5 parts of bark (1/8-1/2) and call it my bark portion. Usually, Agway bark is pretty good by itself (sifted dust to 1/2). Once in awhile a bag or two will be quite off. That is why I have resorted to this method of sifting the fines stuff first. The second reason is that if need the bark for gritty mix then all I have to do is sift it through a 1/4 screen.

So after adding 1 part dust to 5 parts bark, would you still add 1 part peat to make 5-1-1? Or would the dust take the place of the peat?

I would still add the peat. The original recipe is 5 parts pine (dust to 3/8 but dust to 1/2 works too), 1 part peat and 1 part perlite. This thread may also be helpful to you: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/does-anyone-else-here-have-problems-with-weeds-growing-in-your-pots-dsvw-vd~5488019

I think that’s the wrong link, but I believe I’ve seen the thread you’re referring to. Thanks.

Sorry: this is the one: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/can-you-give-me-an-opinion-regarding-this-media-dsvw-vd~5475497

Thanks, I’ve just re-read that thread. Also have already ordered the set of screens and waiting for them to arrive.

Saypoint, does the Agway Pine Bark look the way it's supposed to be or is it grinded up?

Mine looks like the second photo, not shredded.

Thank God my bark from them does not look like that. I do get a lot of very fine stuff but I use that as the peat fraction. In fact, all I do is add as much per lite as I want to make it the way it's suppose to be and call it a day. Never had a problem using it that way. I can post a pic of what I have if you would like. I did notice that if you are buying a bag that is old or sitting in the rain it does that.

It's not even the size I would be concerned about but the amount of raw wood chips in there. I would just add as much per lite as I have too. and it would still be a great mix.

MIke

Just finished sifting about 10 cf of agway bark through a 1/2 inch sieve. Surprisingly few oversize pieces and not as much small dust as I expected either. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would to sift, about 2 hours or so, still have another 6 cf to do.

This is almost one full 4 cf bag done, you can see on the left how little of it was over 1/2 inch. Also, my dandy new practicool sieve. I calculate that 16 cf will fill five 18 gallon totes before adding peat and perlite. Also not the unmanageable amount I was expecting when I first saw the bags of mulch. Having fun.

The color of the bags I get mine in is green ! I think they changed the label and I will take a pic of what I use for you )

SayPoint: Agway pine bark should be 3cf per bag. Do you have a different product since you say it is 4cf? Also did you get the screen (Practitool ?) from Amazon? If so, could you measure the hole sizes for each screen and post them here? I am curious about the quality and their claims.

Sorry, it is 3 cf. had a senior moment. yes, practicool from amazon. Holes sizes 1/2, just under 3/8, 1/4, and just over 1/8. If I’m reading it correctly. When I first got them, I thought they were so small It would take forever, but I really like them. I didn’t use the small ones yet, as I had almost no dust.

Thanks Saypoint. Those screens look well made and very close to spec. I am tempted to get one myself.

Houzz as usual managed to double post - it happens a lot when you think it disappeared after Submit but shows up anyway.

Update: I ordered some new bags from Agway and the bark is still grinded looking. Anyone else order Agways recently? Any issues? Some photo's would be great too. 1st photo shows the new bags, 2nd photo is the good bark. I think I grabbed the better stuff in the bag to take a photo of because I see a lot of very small bark fines all over inside the bag.

Stuart. I haven't noticed that, but it may be coming from a different source, or the bags may have partially decomposed due to sitting outside on a pallet for a while. I'd still buy/use it as it is way better than anything else I can get. I'd just add less peat when mixing.

Thanks. How much less peat do you think? I'm not advanced enough yet to figure this out on my own. Would you like to see more photos of the pine bark?

Would it be okay to use half the amount of Spagnum Peat Moss?

I will be guessing here but with 1/2 peat it should be fine. To me the second pic looks like it has very little dust. So go with full peat if that is the case. For annuals in 511 these days I just eyeball it. You may want to sift the bark and get an idea of its composition.

For long term plants I use 1/8 and 1/2 screen to separate bark into three 3 parts. The large stuff goes in the yard. Then I add 1-2 parts of the fine stuff to 5 parts of the middle fraction. I skip the peat often. This mix is has little less water holding capacity than classic 511 mix.

You could sift a gallon or so of the AGWAY Pine bark with a bug screen and use that to make 5-1-1. Then compare to unsifted PBM right out of the bag, that should get you very close.

How's that look? That's a dime for comparison. Does it look too water retentive?

Nice stuart. I need to get less lazy and go screen another batch of 511 because with the veggies we are planting and trees repotting before they bud I think I'll need it. I have 12 gallons made right now. Waiting for the lime to react and it will be ready in 10 days.

Looking pretty good stuart.

Here's the final product after re-potting and watering. I used full Peat Moss. That's a dime for reference. Does the bark look too fine? Should I re-pot the plant with less or no Peat Moss or does it look okay?

That looks really good. Is that a tree? My gut says that will last a couple of years if it doesn't grow too fast, but we know how fast stuff grows in that mix. :-)

Thanks. Yes it's a Fagus Sylvatica 'Franken'.

Looks great!