Dealing 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 as no-till. In addition, it is possible to control weeds without chemicals or additional hours of hard labor.
Below are a couple options for you to try. You will be building zymogenic soil that is disease-suppressive and an incredibly healthy foundation for plants,
beneficial insects, and
beneficial
microorganisms to flourish in.
Materials: EM-1® Microbial Ionculant, molasses, watering can and teaspoon or hose end sprayer, Bokashi or fermented cafeteria waste and soil/compost, tarp, rocks or bricks.
Procedure A (using recycled weeds as mulch): First pull out any pre-existing weeds. Cut them into small pieces and leave them on the soil surface of the area to be treated. Sprinkle a light covering of Bokashi over the weeds. Saturate the weeds, Bokashi and soil with a 1:1:500 dilution of EM-1®, molasses, and water. Cover this area with a tarp. Secure the tarp with rocks, bricks, or earth staples. Leave the soil covered for 2 weeks. Remove the tarp and let the soil rest for 1 to 2 weeks longer. Now the soil is free of weeds and ready to plant.
Procedure B (using EM-1® Food Waste): Pull out any existing weeds and put them to the side. Cover the soil with 1" of fermented food waste. Chop up weeds and put a 2" layer on top of the food waste. Sprinkle a light layer of EM-1® Bokashi over the weeds. Over the fermented food waste, weeds, and EM-1® Bokashi, cover lightly with soil or finished compost. Cover this area with a tarp and secure the edges with rocks or earth staples. Leave the soil covered for 2 weeks. Remove the tarp and let the soil rest 1 to 2 weeks longer. After this rest period, the garden bed is ready for planting.
To plant, simply rake back any residual organic matter, dig a hole big enough for the transplant or seeds, and water in with a 1:1,000 EM-1® solution. If using transplants, residual mulch may be returned to planting area. There is no need to dig up the entire bed. Digging up the entire bed will actually disturb the established soil micro-flora and begin oxidation of organic material.
- 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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