Got the last of the seedlings planted yesterday, and it looks like the storm want wash them out if this mornings track holds correct. Also took down a huge oak tree near the seedlings. Had built a 60 foot long box a couple of years ago because the roots from this tree were in the bed nearest the tree, this year the roots were in the next bed so it was cheaper to remove the tree than build another box. The tree also caused the the seedlings to lean and grow taller trying to reach the sun.
You can see the shadow from the tree two years ago, this box is now full of babies.

That looks so nice!!! Is that sand on top in that picture?

Nice to see that you are expanding for more beauties, Fred.

Teresa

That is 10% sand 90% pine bark, only the lower section had been tilled at that time two years ago
This is what it looks like today. You can see part of the stump from the tree we took down. The bed to the left is also babies.

This is the two new beds, the one on the left are my dips, on the right are my sons tets, he still has one more planting this weekend.

Teresa these two beds will only be here two years and then I will let the grass grow back.
Stump

You've been very busy. All looks great, nice and neat.

Fred, do you move the beds to a new area after 2 years? It seems like way too much work! Looks very nice though! I sure wish I had that much room!

Natalie in case Fred doesn't get back on for a few days because of the storm I'll answer this question and he can correct me later if I'm wrong

The beds that he's going to let grass grow back over are just there temporarily. His son is getting beds ready at his place but they weren't ready for the seedlings this year so Fred made some beds for him. Also, Fred made a lot more seeds than normal so he planted them in this bed also. So after 2 years all the CHOSEN ones will be dug from these beds and the other seedlings composted and he won't need them any longer.

The other beds stay in place and just get tilled and admended every couple of years (or when the seedlings are removed)

Thanks Michele! I kept thinking about how expensive it must have been to fill the beds, not to mention all that work, just to turn it back into lawn eventually. Hopefully the filling for the beds can be moved to his son's place when he's ready?

I wish I could find fine pine bark here. The online versions of the stores say they carry it, but I've never seen it here. I'd love to get a truckload for my little seedling beds.

The way he does the beds is just spray roundup to kill all the grass and tills it then add the pinebark and such to the soil that's already there and tills it all together so he's not really spending a great deal of money on bringing in truckloads of actual soil, just the pine bark. I assume the soil mixtures would cost a lot more than just pine bark.

The tractor does 90% of the work so don't let him fool you into thinking he does all the work JUST KIDDING FRED

How close are you to West Jordon, UT? Glover Nursery sells bark in bag or bulk and can deliver http://www.glovernursery.com/p...

Michele! That's so much better than I had pictured, and I really love the idea for myself! Thanks so much for the additional details!

I've called Glover Nursery, and they've never had fine pine bark. I've got a nursery much closer than they are that sells the same stuff, and they've never had it either. I can get some pretty fine mulch, which I use for amending the soil, but it's probably not all pine. It's just a huge mixture of trees, but it's great mulch, and also great for mixing in to improve the dirt. I buy at least two truck loads a year. I've just never seen anyone mention using fine mixed mulch. It's always fine pine bark/mulch. Any idea if a mixture would work the same? I can buy a yard for $20, and it's always closer to 2 yards once they dump it in my truck. Feels like 4 yards after I've unloaded and moved it!

I'm not sure if the mixture would work the same, but if what you are already using works for you then I wouldn't change it.

Depending on who the supplier is depends on what they consider fine pine bark. We use the 3/4" -1" fines like here http://elixsonwoodproducts.com... which is about the size of a dime. It's nothing but pine bark (no other part of the tree)
Some places consider fines the ground up pine bark that looks like coffee grounds basically.

Thanks for answering Michelle, you are the best.

Thanks Michele, That doesn't look like what I usually get, and I'm sure mine isn't just bark. Utah doesn't have a huge amount of pine trees, which is probably why I haven't seen it here at a nursery, in bulk. I'm not sure I'd want to plant seeds in the stuff I can get, even if it's amended with sand. I think I'll have to test it on some seeds I don't care about before taking a chance and planting my good seeds in it!

I can buy bark in bags at Home Depot, but I've never seen it listed as being pine before, though it does look like pine. I've just never seen it that fine!

Here is what I buy