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Additions of compost to soil and mulching with it will hold in moisture, requiring less watering, keep weeds down, and provide a home to worms and microbes. The homeowner has a variety of choices. You should try a few and pick what works best for you. Below we have some suggestions that incorporate EM-1®. Remember, Let EM-1® Do The Work! Adding the Effective Microorganisms™ will ensure control of pathogens, odors, and accelerate the breakdown of materials by several months. The EM-1® Bokashi method is very quick and preserves the much-wanted nitrogen of green materials because it controls the heat process. Aerobic Method: The turners and tumblers you see everywhere for composting are designed to allow air into the materials you wish to compost. Compost, by definition is the aerobic breakdown of organic matter. It is a rotting process. During this process, you turn the contraption often and will have to add water to keep the materials moist.
Add 10 ounces of EM-1® for every cubic foot of material. Static Pile (Anaerobic Method): Add about 10 ounces of EM-1® for every cubic foot of material. EM-1® Bokashi Method (Semi-anaerobic): This is a quick fermentation method that is centuries old. Organic (carbon: leaves, grass, wood chips, etc.) materials are collected and piled. Be sure to include some fresh manures (cow, chicken, pig, rabbit, etc.) at a ratio of 1 carbon: 20 parts manure. As the materials are piled, water with a solution of EM-1®, molasses, and water (1:1:100). The moisture content of the pile should be about 35-40% moisture. Once this is achieved, cover the pile with a tarp and weight down with rocks and/ or boards. Fermentation will take about two weeks. The longer you let it sit, the better. After the fermentation cycle is complete, the materials are ready to incorporate into the soil. You will likely see white mold on the pile. This is a beneficial mold and is a sign of success. Depending on what was used (food scraps, etc.) you will not want to mulch with this material as it will attract animals. If it is made only with plant material, you can mix it with compost or bark mulch to mulch with. For larger piles of a cubic yard, the application rate of EM-1® Microbial Inoculant Lawn & Garden is about 1-1.5 gallons per cubic yard (ton), diluted into the water use to reach proper moisture for composting. |
- Compost
- Soil Treatment
- Weeds
- Indoor Plants
- Trees and Shrubs
Compost
Composting is probably the oldest form of recycling. It is the best way to “act locally”. To do it, all you need is a small amount of yard space. Local agricultural extension agencies across the country have been promoting composting to teach people how to use food wastes, trimmings, and even some small amounts of paper to cut down on what is going into landfills. Additions of compost to soil and mulching with it will hold in moisture, requiring less watering, keep weeds down, and provide a home to worms and microbes. The homeowner has a variety of choices. You...
READMORESoil Treatment
The following guidelines will help with your successful use of EM-1® Microbial Inoculant: It is important to build up the organic matter content in your soil. EM-1® lives on the organic matter and clay particles in your soil. To accelerate the conversion of plant residue to stable humus spray all plant residue and mulch your garden beds with EM-1®. When irrigating a garden with EM-1® moisten the top 3-4 inches of soil to ensure that the EM-1® penetrates into the rhizosphere (root zone). EM-1® soil treatments should be more frequent during your first couple of years of use to...
READMOREDealing With Weeds
When we get ready to plant a garden, naturally we pull out pre-existing weeds. However, there may also be hundreds or thousands of weed seeds hiding in the soil, waiting until the conditions are right before they sprout and grow. Here is a method of dealing with weeds in your garden beds. EM-1 Microbial Inoculant accelerates seed germination, exhausting weed seed supplies in soils. Remove the weeds and recycle them for the ultimate garden bed preparation and prevention of further weed growth. It is possible to prepare a garden bed without the backbreaking labor of turning the soil, also known...
READMOREIndoor Plants
Household plants can easily be maintained with Effective Microorganisms™. Spraying the leaves with EM-1® can help deal with any problems on the leaves and leave the plants looking great. A weekly spraying of EM-1® and water will help your indoor plants thrive, giving longer blooms and brighter flowers. It is easy. EM-1® Microbial Inoculant adds enzymes, trace minerals, and various B-complex vitamins to the soil...all of which can feed the plants. Mix 3/4 teaspoon of EM-1® in a gallon of water and water your plants. You can mist the plants once or twice a week with this solution. If you...
READMORETrees & Shrubs
We often stress directly applying EM-1® Microbial Inoculant to the soil or to make high quality composts with EM-1® Microbial Inoculant Lawn & Garden. When it comes to trees and shrubs the applications are mostly foliar (sprayed on the leaves). Soil treatments should be done as well by spraying one of the EM-1® Microbial Inoculant Lawn & Garden formulas we have below. Additionally, sustainable landscaping practices enourage the use of organic composts and bokashi that can be dug into the soil along the drip line of the trees or shrubs. Treating Trees and Shrubs with Effective Microorganisms Using the...
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