I have been using various potting mixes and whatever soils I have around in my garden for planting figs in the ground, and never had any issues, but I am growing a few trees in pots now, and am looking at this 5-1-1 mix.

However, no one sells pine/fir bark in the Bay Area, that I can find.   I found this on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Organic-Pine-Bark-Mulch-3-Cubic-Feet-/261741922894?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf108ca4e

Does this seem like the right stuff for making a 5-1-1 mix?

Also, I wonder about using "fines" vs. "mulch."  Is this basically just about the size it has been ground down to?

Any other recommendations for purchasing the ingredients for 5-1-1 (or 5-1-1-1)?

Came across this as a source of fir bark:

http://smile.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Reptile-Bedding-Quarts/dp/B001F9AMW6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431814475&sr=8-1&keywords=reptibark

I installed this Firefox addon so amazon links automatically go to smile.amazon.com:

https://addons.mozilla.org/En-uS/firefox/addon/amazonsmileredirector/

Easier than retyping the url every time :)

Check wal mart for pine bark mulch. Its like 3 bucks for a large bag. Its in a purple bag.

Dan - The best I've found is Pine Bark Mulch from Agway. Can use it right out of the bag but I still sift it a little. Makes a perfect mix. Don't know if Agway is in CA. My local feed store doesn't stock it but orders it for me. Place order by Tues and it's in on Fri. 5 bucks or so for a 3 cu ft bag. Just picked more up today.

Danny-
Which store in NYC are you getting that from? The last time I was in NJ for work I picked up 5 bags at the agway there. It is good stuff and I need more.

Thanks, guys.

Nope on Agway: http://www.agway.com/Storelocations/results.aspx?zip=95124

Found this at walmart.com: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Timberline-Pine-Mulch-2CF/16911966 (but, it says it's not available within 50 miles of me).

This is available near me: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Greensmix-2-Cu-Ft-Cedar-Mulch/16778233

Another question on 5-1-1.  Do you really put 5 times as much of this mulch in there as peat?  It seems like an awfully high ratio.  Or does it take less space once the peat fills in the spaces?

I paid $4.50 for a large bag here in CT $39.00 is crazy!  Fox Farm Oceanantic has the same mixture that we make up, maybe you could find it out your way I believe it is made out your way in California

A nursery near here says it has the following:

http://www.redi-gro.com/products/bark_mulch_info.shtml
http://www.redi-gro.com/images/bags/printable/mini_mulch_blue_bag.JPG

Supposedly this is fir bark mulch.

They sell Foxfarm but not the mulch.

The timberline is the one I use.

I'll have to try the redi-gro.  I think pine mulch doesn't show up much out here, so fir mulch will have to do.  Hopefully it isn't too fine.

Here is what I got (redi-gro) at Summer Winds Nursery.  Perhaps it needs a sifting?

 

Here in central alabama you find it at Lowes labeled as soil conditioner.  3.50 a big bag.

This is what I use from Lowe's,

 
This is from Home Depot,make sure it's not the dyed stuff.

 
Frankly,being in CA.,you might want to reconsider 5.1.1 with the water situation.

I have heard not to use cedar bark as it has an inhibitory effect on plant growth. Not sure from personal experience though.

I have a lot of thoughts on this issue....

First question is, if you are in CA, why are you growing in pots to begin with?  Why not just grow in ground?  Will be a lot less labor and expense and you'll probably get more fruit.

The photo isn't that clear, but to me it looks like the stuff you got at Summer Winds Nursery has quite a bit of wood pieces mixed in.  Usually you want it to be almost entirely bark, if possible.  It's not feasible to separate it by hand. 

Around here soil conditioner is sometimes bark, but sometimes it's just composted leaves, which is very different.  Have to poke a little hole in the bag and investigate.  I think they will use either to make the product, depending on what's available/cheaper. 

To answer the question, "What's the difference between pine bark and pine fines".  There may or may not be a difference, depending on how they are labeled.  In my experience, if it's called pine bark mulch, it is usually a fresh product and hasn't been composted or aged at all.  Now if it says aged pine bark, or pine fines, it should be partially composted/aged.  The aged product is better because it retains more water.  On the other hand, it is heavier (probably because it contains more water).  In my opinion the aged product is better.  However, for me it's harder to find.  So if I am forced to use the fresh product (as is often the case), I will make sure to add the peat moss, maybe even a little extra, to make it more water retentive.  After a year or two, the fresh product will naturally deteriorate into the aged product, and then eventually into mush. 

If I can get the aged product, I don't even add peat moss.  Just some fertilizer, lime, and slow release fertilizer (osmocote, for example). 

I don't see any point in sifting.  Why would I sift away the small particles, and then add in peat moss (small particles)?  Just not worth the work, in my opinion. 

Also, I think adding the perlite is totally unnecessary and just adds expense without improving the characteristics of the mix.  It may have usefulness when rooting cuttings, but when you get to larger sized trees, it's not helpful.

The best clean bark I found in LS Angeles was an orchid bark. It comes in 3 sizes, the medium is best .
Ask your nursery to order if they do not carry.
It is a high quality product, you will like it.
I will take a photo of a bag later today

Look up Armstrong garden center. Microbark is almost perfect right out of the bag. $10 for 2 cf

I also have gone more like 3-1-1. 5-1-1 just doesnt hold enough water for me