Yes. Once it dries out you can screen out the fine stuff through a 1/8" screen and use the rest for the gritty mix. You can add the fine stuff back to the 511 pile.

And yes the darker bark looks perfect for the 511 as is.

And yes, you can use the lighter bark on the right for the 511 if screened through 1/2".

You seem to have a good handle on what you are doing.

Awesome, thank you so much for the quick reply! I thought the dark stuff looked good when I saw it. I found it at Ace Hardware btw, if anyone else in the mid-Atlantic area is still looking.

I'm off to buy more!

Thanks again,
Deanna

I'm no expert, but that black stuff looks great except for the COLOR-- have never seen a BLACK(gray) pine bark... like I said though, no expert here.

Regarding the stuff on the right, don't forget to remove the sapwood also.

Kevin

It's partially composted, that's why it's black.

"It's partially composted, that's why it's black."

I'm glad to hear that. Telling uncomposted from partially composted bark was still something I was wondering about.

I hadn't been worrying about the color because I'd read that the dyes used to color mulch should be harmless. But thanks for bringing it up Kevin, because it prompted me to look up the original source of the mulch (the brand is "Lumber Jack" from Grant Mulch Co in WV) and it seems to be reputable.

Yeah, I hate picking out sapwood, pain in the neck.

FWIW I think most people would probably prefer sifting the uncomposted bark for the gritty mix......I do. If I was going to use the partially composted bark for the gritty mix, I 'might' hose/wash it off a bit over a screen first to get the powdery stuff off of it..

dsb22, are you in central VA? If so would you tell me where you purchased your "Pine Fines Soil Conditioner",and "Pine Bark & Fines". Thanks.

Hi vabreeze, I'm in northern VA, but I purchased the "Pine Fines Soil Conditioner" bark at an Ace Hardware. So if you have one near you, they may carry the same thing. The "Pine Bark & Fines" came from Merrifield Garden Center here. However a heads up that I had also emailed Al directly and he has replied that the dark bark "looks a little TOO composted for the 5:1:1, but would prolly work if you mixed it half & half with the uncomposted bark + perlite & left out the peat." He said to use the uncomposted bark (screened) for the gritty mix.

dsd22, I'm glad you were in contact with Al. He's helped me alot the past couple of years. I got excited when I saw the composted pine bark you showed, and since I definitely need extra water retention, would use it as is for the 511. But Al is right in suggesting a 50-50 mix with the uncomposted bark to start out. Once you try it, you'll quickly learn if any adjustments are necessary to meet your needs. Hope I didn't steer you too far off by calling it partially composted. Ed

No worries, Ed. I used the darker bark for 5-1-1 in two big (24") pots on our deck and I've only got one plant (confederate jasmine) in each so far. It won't be a big deal to replace half with the screened lighter bark and more perlite as Al suggests. I already have peat in the mix, but it does get very hot on our deck. Sometimes I have to water twice/day in the summer. I'm thinking the extra water retention will be fine, if not beneficial. Thank you for your help.

Deanna

Thanks, dsb22, for your reply!