Pine Bark fines - in bulk

[fortyonenorth]

I'm looking for a wholesale source for pine bark fines in the upper midwest—the closer to NW Indiana, the better. It's sometimes called shredded pine bark or pine bark soil conditioner. Home Depot carries the stuff, but I'm looking for roughly 80 cubic yards—that would be over 1000 bags. For some reason all the bulk suppliers in my immediate area only carry the really big pine bark pieces and/or shredded hardwood. I found a place near Indianapolis - probably 3-4 hours away that had a decent price ($18/yd.) but they quoted nearly $1000 for shipping a semi-load!

Any leads in Northern Indiana, Western Ohio, or Southern Michigan would be appreciated.

[mjc]

Originally Posted by fortyonenorth

For some reason all the bulk suppliers in my immediate area only carry the really big pine bark pieces and/or shredded hardwood.

That's because they can screen and sell the fines to someone who bags them for places like Home Depot.

What exactly are you planning on doing with it?

Does it really have to be pine bark fines?

And can you wait a year or two to use it?

Because if it can be mixed, chipped/shredded woody plant material, contact local tree trimming services (Asplundh type places), utility companies (power/telco) and such...now is the season that they are trimming and more often than not they are in need of places to dump the shredded material.

Let it compost a year or two and you'll have quite a bit of wonderful mulch/soil conditioner.

[fortyonenorth]

Thanks for the reply, MJC.

I'm going to use it as a soil conditioner. We built our home about five years ago in an area that is very sandy loam. In the disturbed areas around the house, it is pure sand and there's not enough organic matter to jump start the organisms in the soil. The year after we moved in, I mulched with shredded hardwood - the only stuff I could get in bulk. But even now, four years later, it hasn't done much in the way of breaking down.

Last year, I planted some squash and melons in the sand - just dug a hole in the sand and amended with bagged pine bark fines. It's incredible what has happened in these areas after just one year - lots of soil life, earthworms and great texture.

Now, I'd like to use the PBF on much of the property. I figure after a year or so, I'll have pretty good soil all around.

Asplundh operates around here, but what I've seen locally is pretty nasty - a bit of everything, plus who knows what kinds of diseases, insects, etc.

[mjc]

I've got heavy clay and we've been having Asplundh dump the chipped stuff in one of the fields, to use as conditioner/mulch in the garden. After composting for a year or two, it's fine to use (I prefer two years if being used as other than mulch). I have not had any disease or weed problems from it at all, after composting. In fact, I've been screening the piles and using them as the basis for my seed starting mix, for the past two years...I have less damping off with that in the mix than either peat or coir alone. Any weeds come from the fact that the piles may sit too long before being used...it is a hay field, after all.

The key is to let it compost before use...that will break down all the leaves and such and 'jump start' the bigger stuff. You can also 'inoculate' the piles with either a couple of buckets of forest soil or good, finished compost.

[Stepheninky]

mjc has probably got the best suggestion if you have the additional space. A lot of the tree services now cut a tree and chip it straight into their trucks. I know the services here actually have to pay a local bulk mulch company to dump it. Then they turn around and sell it at ridiculous prices. So many of them are happy if they are doing work close to your area to dump it for free or for a small fee that pays their gas etc.... With these types of trees just ask them to only dump disease free trees. I think if you are letting them break down or are adding a compost booster or even placing plastic over the piles to increase heat and break down time the hard or soft woods will work well as they usually chip leaves and all.

If you are saving enough getting it for free or cheap you could use some of the savings to invest in a good chipper/ shredder. As it breaks down pick out the big pieces and discard them then use the shredder get the mix even finer. The finer you get it the quicker it will break down as well.

[shlacm]

Originally Posted by Stepheninky

mjc has probably got the best suggestion if you have the additional space. A lot of the tree services now cut a tree and chip it straight into their trucks. I know the services here actually have to pay a local bulk mulch company to dump it. Then they turn around and sell it at ridiculous prices. So many of them are happy if they are doing work close to your area to dump it for free or for a small fee that pays their gas etc.... With these types of trees just ask them to only dump disease free trees. I think if you are letting them break down or are adding a compost booster or even placing plastic over the piles to increase heat and break down time the hard or soft woods will work well as they usually chip leaves and all.

If you are saving enough getting it for free or cheap you could use some of the savings to invest in a good chipper/ shredder. As it breaks down pick out the big pieces and discard them then use the shredder get the mix even finer. The finer you get it the quicker it will break down as well.

Of course if you're going to get a chipper of your own, you could use the large pine bark that's available locally... you might even look into renting a good chipper for a weekend.

[fortyonenorth]

But, but, but....I need 80 cu. yds! I would be chipping all summer

[lurley]

Not to mention the possibility (around here at least) of ending up with someone giving you chipped black walnut. Is Dayton close enough to you? Ohio Mulch has a branch there and gives wholesale prices for bulk if you purchase a whole semi -load.

[mjc]

Chipped black walnut isn't much of a problem, if you let it sit for 6 months or so...or don't use it on any solanums.