That hapi-gro product varies a lot.. sometimes it's perfect for 5:1:1, sometimes it's full of sapwood. For gritty mix though, you absolutely should be sifting out the pieces of bark. Otherwise the "fines" just fill up the air spaces between the other components and defeat the whole purpose of the gritty mix.

Thanks Greentiger, yea I guess I got lucky with a bag or two because I sifted and was able to use about 70% of what I sifted. I'll be sure to start sifting the big bark from now on.
Now ill be in business if someone can chime in on some advice for the thyme? I wonder, is it any different than growing you're conventional, garden thyme or creeping thyme (probably not???). Thanks again.

Yes, I wish some one would chime in as well.

That sounds like a wonderful idea to conserve moisture (like mulching) and would look really nice with 'elfin' thyme.

SM13