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Composted Fine Fir Bark
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Posted by acercon3 UK 8b (My Page) on Mon, Nov 14, 05 at 10:23
Can anyone tell me where I may find Composted Fine Fir Bark here in the UK ?
I need it as a constituent in a potting mix. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Composted Fine Fir Bark
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| Does it have to be Fir? Plenty of sources for composted bark, although not always under that name just to confuse you. |
RE: Composted Fine Fir Bark
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| Thanks for the reply. The reason I specified composted fine fir bark was basically because I saw it regulary mentioned as a potting constituent on the Maples Forum on the US site.
If you have some alternative suggestion or mix for potting maples it would be appreciated. |
RE: Composted Fine Fir Bark
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| There are several versions of composted fine bark available. If you have access to a nursery that uses Cambark Fine, or Melcourt propagating grade, then that is what you want, but these are "officially" trade only products so you will need a friendly nursery. Alternatives are a similar, but generally less well graded product recommended for soil improving, available from several sources, trade and retail. B&Q sell a soil improver in small bales, and a similar peat free compost if you want a similar thing with additives, both around the £3-4 mark. The better trade products are ~2-6mm size and relatively dust free. The soil improvers tend to be more like 0-20mm, but you can sieve them to take out the coarse material, and dust if it is a problem for you. I have used both trade and retail products in my potting composts for some time now, instead of peat, and it gives a much better well drained mix in my experience, and is great for woodland plants as an additive, or used on its own with fertiliser added. Brian |
RE: Composted Fine Fir Bark
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| B&Q used to sell their product as Composted Bark, although it was not composted much, just a finely shredded bark. Now they tag it as Soil Improver but it is the same stuff. I imagine the bark is from whatever tree they can source easily, most likely from the paper industry. I have used this as part of ericaceous potting mixes and it should work well for maples. Some other products are much more "composted". J Arthur Bowers Composted Bark was very mouldy stuff, but again I don't know what tree it was from. |
RE: Composted Fine Fir Bark
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| What about composted dog bark? Plenty available for composting from the neighbours. :-) |
RE: Composted Fine Fir Bark
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| Thanks for the replies . The info will give me something to work on. Pineresin, No lack of dog bark with me , I am sure my neighbour could supply some as he seems to have considerable quantities ! |
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