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bill_missy

Pine Bark project

Bill_Missy
11 years ago

Well guys and gals,

I am taking the plunge. I had nothing to do at work yesterday, so I drove around my range to areas that U.S. Forestry had been clear cutting pine trees over the past 8 months or so and I found a perfect spot where they de-limbed a crap load of pine trees and found mounds after mounds of pine bark. So I filled up 4 large trash bags full and brought it home. In the picture is one bag full, that filled two 5Gal pots. No sap wood just a few blades of grass/weeds. This is un-sifted and right out of the mounds. I will be sifting it while I go out and have a cigarette and beer.

I am going to start with a ýâ screen then to a 1/4âÂÂ. I have read I believe every post here on GW in reference to 5-1-1.

I am debating whether to go down to an 1/8â or 1/16â Is this really necessary?

Bill

Comments (29)

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Close up

  • habjolokia z 6b/7
    11 years ago

    Nice looking bark, are you selling or trading lol. It will be nice to see it after its screened. We just can't find that quality of bark in stores.

    Mark

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Mark,

    Come to Louisiana and I will get you all you want. :)

    Bill

  • ab2008
    11 years ago

    Mark,

    I too live on a state forest where they harvest and re-plant pine. I don't go and get any since I don't do any container growing, but there are fields and fields of nothing but pine ripe for the taking hah.

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    I was just reading a very good article here on GW. When it talked about lime, it said make the 5 1 1 mix and wait two weeks to plant because of the lime. Is this true? I have no time to wait.

    Bill

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    From the above two containers, I yielded one full container ranging in size from 1/16th to þâÂÂ

    Bill

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    What I used for a sifter was a diamond grate with 3/4 x 1 1/2". Now to find something smaller.

  • tsheets
    11 years ago

    Hardware cloth is pretty easy to find and comes in a variety of sizes. Check your local hardware store, it's usually near the fencing.

    Oh, and regarding the two weeks...from what I've read, some prefer it, but, it's not necessary.

    This post was edited by tsheets on Sat, Mar 30, 13 at 14:06

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago

    Good barkage !!

    You might want to screen that finer for smaller pots. But I wouldn't bother for larger pots.

    What kind of peat component will you be using?

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Thankls Tsheets, I did not want to have to wait for two weeks just because of the lime.

    DMForcier, I am planning on using sphagnum peat if I can find it. Better ideas?

    My plan is 5 part bark, 1 part corse perlite, 1 part Sphagnum peat, 1 tablespoon per gallon of mix of corse lime and some slow release fert.

    This is my first real year growing so I was going to do some experiments but wanted to start out with the true and tested 5-1-1.

    All advice welcome and greatly appreciated.

    Bill

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago

    I just use Miracle Grow Moisture Control (MGMC) soil, since I have it around. (Don't buy it for the mix; it's too expensive.) MGMC already has everything but the bark in it, though not enough perlite and not sure about the lime, so I add perlite and lime as you would with sphagnum. If I'm using year-old MGMC I add some Osmocote on the theory that the nutrients in it have been eaten already, though that isn't necessary if you water with a dilute fert as some do.

    No, I don't let my mix sit for a week, but I have no idea whether that is good or bad.

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    Okay all this is what I ended up with. Took about two hours but I am happy. Now, what do to with it?

    Right off my range at work.

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    3/4" to 1" pieces

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    1/2" pieces

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    1/4" pieces

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    1/16th to 1/8" pieces. Fine dust has been shifted out

  • tsheets
    11 years ago

    Looks AWESOME! I'll take 4 bags of the 1/4" ;-)

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago

    Yah me too. Do you ship FedEx?

  • jifjifjif
    11 years ago

    I Am Also In For 4 Bags Of The 1/4" :)

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    What would you do with the 1/4"? Seems to small to do anything with.

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    WAIT ONE MOMENT, That sounded perverted after I re-read it....

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    10 years ago

    The 1/4 inch is fantastic! I'd use that for the 5-1-1 for sure. I'd even add in some of the 1/16 to 1/8 bark.

    Great to see this use of fresh bark.


    Josh

  • scorpion_john
    10 years ago

    Looks great Bill, start bagging it up little buddy, i'll pay the shipping. Lol

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks guys,

    Just want to try and make sure I am doing my 5-1-1 right for my nuclears. is the 3/4-1" to big? Should I make it smaller like the 1/4" or 1/2"?

    Also, is the 1/2" still to big? I am thinking the 1/2" would be perfect. I am using all 5 Gal containers besides what will go in the ground.

    Also, do any of you think this would be good for ground planting as well?

    I am doing:
    5 parts pure bark
    1 park corse Perlite
    1 part pure Sphagnum peat
    1 Tablespoon per GalDomolitic lime
    Osmocote plus slow release fert. How much of this?

    As always, Thank for any input.

    Bill

  • esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
    10 years ago

    Bill, that is some fine looking bark you got there. Good luck.
    Bruce

  • DMForcier
    10 years ago

    I dunno. I just throw in a handful.

    I suppose you would interpret the directions to refer to the entire volume of the mix, even though only 1/7 of it is soil. But maybe not.

    This would seem to be a good question to ask of the Osmocote customer support flaks.

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    10 years ago

    Bill,
    3/4 - 1 inch is too big. Either process the big pieces smaller, or else use them for mulch in your garden. The 5-1-1 calls for bark that ranges from 1/2 inch down to fine bark dust. The 5-1-1 is a container mix, and I would not use it in-ground if that's what you are asking. At the end of the season, I dump the old 5-1-1 in my garden to improve the soil-texture.

    In a 5-gallon container, I typically add 1 Tablespoon of Osmocote.


    Josh

  • Bill_Missy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks guys,

    Brought some more home from work today. Back to sifting. I will make it all 1/2" or less, mostly 1/4" then as that seems the concensious.

    Thank you also for the info about the ferts. a Tablespoon of Osmocote to a final mix of a 5 gal containers sounds good to me.

    Bill

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    10 years ago

    I use the 4-month Osmocote, which really only lasts about 3 months with the way I water a bark-based mix. To me, a Tablespoon seems a bit on the light side - but I only intend it to be a starter charge for the early vegetative growth, after which I take over fertilization with the liquid (Foliage Pro). If I ran out of fertilizer, I wouldn't hesitate to add more Osmocote later in the season.

    Josh

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