Are you a container gardener looking to save money on potting mix? If so, you might want to consider making your own.

For small to medium-sized containers, a good mix consists of 50% to 60% Canadian peat moss, 20% to 25% coarse sand or perlite, and 20% to 25% ground pine bark. Or, you can experiment with the following mixes:

For larger containers, coarse blends of ground, composted fir or pine bark mixed with coarse peat moss work well. And if you’ll be growing shrubs or small trees, it’s a good idea to add 5% to 10% garden soil to support the plant.

Trying out a variety of different mixes will help to determine the best one for your specific needs. Just be sure that the ingredients you use are somewhat moist before mixing. Also, it’s a good idea to add a timed-release fertilizer to your mix when planting.