Why Buy Ball Growing Mix?

Why Buy Ball Bark Mixes?

For Total Growing Control, Your Mix Must Help!

Take a look at what just one of the thousands of satisfied Ball Bark Mix users has to say...
"Before we switched to Ball Growing Mixes in 1982, we mixed all our own. That took a lot of work and cost plenty, too. Then I found out I could buy a consistent product from Ball for the same price. Now I get about 20 truckloads of Ball Mixes a year to use for foliage, baskets, mums, bedding plants, rose bushes and bulbs. It sure seems to help cut back on disease, because I drench crops less now and have better control. The 60-cu. ft. size is great for potting equipment -- it's a real time saver. I even sell the mixes to my retail customers!"
Ben Miller
Stutzman Greenhouse
Hutchinson, Kansas

How Do Bark-Based Mixes Help You?
Ball's line of bark-based growing mixes is designed to give you maximum control over the growing process. You can water and feed on time, greatly decrease the time the crops spend on your benches, and potentially reduce or eliminate the high expenses of applying fungicides.*

Manufactured to strict tolerances for percent composition, Ball Bark Mixes are uniform from bag to bag, and from one shipment to the next. You don't have to adjust to varying conditions on the bench. Crop after crop,you can depend on consistent porosity and the outstanding growth that will bring you top dollar.

Our bark-based growing mixes are formulated through a proprietary process. But the real secret is high quality control, rigorous standards and the kind of attention to detail you'd expect from Ball. The end result is a full line of products that you can combine with your management skills to maximize plant growth potential.

* Results for potential decrease in fungicide applications have been shown in Ohio State University studies.

What Makes Growing In Bark-Based Mixes Better Than In Peat?
Let's hear from Ron Adams, Ball's Technical Specialist and mix expert...

"The major difference you'll see with the heavier bark-based Ball Mixes is better porosity from the bark particles. The porosity level aids in soil, water and air management for the plants. Composted bark is proven to produce plants with fewer root diseases, which means decreased plant loss and an increased number of salable plants. Bark mixes also provide better plant support, with the heavier bark particles keeping the plants upright on the bench and during shipment."

Problem Possible Cause The Ball Mix Solution

Uneven growth
Uneven particle size in the mix, leading to poor aeration and uneven drainage.
Ball Bark Mixes have pine bark that is milled to exacting specifications. This uniformity greatly reduces the amount of fine particles that stifle root growth and cause water to puddle. Choose Ball Bark Mix and reduce uneven plant growth.

Poor crop start
Incorrect pH, or too much or too little starter charge. Sometimes this is found only in certain areas of the crop, causing very uneven growth.
By controlling all the steps of the composting and carefully monitoring the production, we are able to deliver mixes that have ideal 5.2 to 6.2 pH, nutrient and moisture conditions. Our bark-based mixes are shipped "fresh," which eliminates the opportunity to have hot spots form and shift the nutrition levels away from what you are expecting. Choose bark-based Ball Growing Mixes and avoid a poor start with all your crops.

Pesticides and worker safety concerns
Frequent applications of fungicides needed for prevention.
Bark mixes contain beneficial organisms, proven in tests to reduce disease-causing fungi. These studies at Ohio State University have shown that Ball Bark Mixes safely address one of today's hottest issues. Choose Ball Bark Mixes and protect yourself and your employees.

Maximizing profits
Rising costs of both labor and materials, with few chances to raise prices
Ball Bark Mixes pass tough quality assurance tests so you don't see "surprises" while you're growing. Crops start fast, grow uniformly and turn quickly. The time spent watering and picking orders is cut way back. Risk and cost from disease are reduced. Time and money is saved by choosing full or pooled truckloads and buk loads. Choose Ball Bark Mixes and watch your sales and profits grow.

For Maximum Control, Here's All You Need To Know...

There's a mix to match every need. Choose Ball Growing Mixes 1, 2 and 3 for 3 to 4-in. (7 to10-cm.) and larger pot crops and Ball Growing On Mix for finishing seed and cuttings in small containers. Growing On Mix is ideal for automated filling of flats and packs! Our line of Ball Professional Growing Mixes is formulated to meet the needs of growers producing specific crops--select from Ball Professional Poinsettia Mix, Ball Professional Pansy Mix and Ball Professional Geranium Mix. Pansy Mix and Poinsettia Mix are also great tools for crops with special pH needs.
Order all of the Ball Bark Mixes in easy-to-handle 3-cu. ft. bags or economical 60-cu. ft. bulk bags. Bulk bags are quickly unloaded with a standard fork lift, then hung over the flat filler hopper or potting machine to pour the mix out. You get tremendous time and labor savings because workers aren't tied up unloading by hand, ripping the bags open or pouring mix out. Bulk loads are also an option -- the size of the bulk truck depends on the location. Be sure to call for specifics.
You can save even more with our pooled truckload offer. Just order 120 or more 3-cu. ft. bags, and we'll pool your order with others in the area. That gives you the benefit of truckload pricing, while saving on shipping costs. Mix and match any of the mixes -- they all count toward the total.

E-mail questions to: webmaster

Problem	Possible Cause	The Ball Mix Solution
Uneven growth	Uneven particle size in the mix, leading to poor aeration and uneven drainage.	Ball Bark Mixes have pine bark that is milled to exacting specifications. This uniformity greatly reduces the amount of fine particles that stifle root growth and cause water to puddle. Choose Ball Bark Mix and reduce uneven plant growth.
Poor crop start	Incorrect pH, or too much or too little starter charge. Sometimes this is found only in certain areas of the crop, causing very uneven growth.	By controlling all the steps of the composting and carefully monitoring the production, we are able to deliver mixes that have ideal 5.2 to 6.2 pH, nutrient and moisture conditions. Our bark-based mixes are shipped "fresh," which eliminates the opportunity to have hot spots form and shift the nutrition levels away from what you are expecting. Choose bark-based Ball Growing Mixes and avoid a poor start with all your crops.
Pesticides and worker safety concerns	Frequent applications of fungicides needed for prevention.	Bark mixes contain beneficial organisms, proven in tests to reduce disease-causing fungi. These studies at Ohio State University have shown that Ball Bark Mixes safely address one of today's hottest issues. Choose Ball Bark Mixes and protect yourself and your employees.
Maximizing profits	Rising costs of both labor and materials, with few chances to raise prices	Ball Bark Mixes pass tough quality assurance tests so you don't see "surprises" while you're growing. Crops start fast, grow uniformly and turn quickly. The time spent watering and picking orders is cut way back. Risk and cost from disease are reduced. Time and money is saved by choosing full or pooled truckloads and buk loads. Choose Ball Bark Mixes and watch your sales and profits grow.