Dealing With Weeds

Treating Weeds with Effective Microorganisms

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.

Using Weeds

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.

Using Food Waste

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.

Ingredients in EM•1®

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
Microorganisms: 1 million colony forming units/cc (units/ml), 1%: Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
96% Water and 3% Molasses

OMRI Listing

MSDS

EM•1^® (Effective Microorganisms™) Microbial Inoculant

PREPARED: 09/01/06

PRODUCT NAME: EM•1^® Microbial Inoculant

PRODUCED BY:
EMRO USA, Inc. dba EMRO USA Effective Microorganisms
2440 N. Coyote Drive Suite 126
Tucson, AZ 85745
Phone: (520) 792-3143 Fax: (928) 563-1037>

SECTION I - PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
GENERAL OR GENERIC NAME: Liquid Microbial Inoculant
HAZARD RATING:
HEALTH - 0 Normal Material
FIRE - 0 Will not burn
REACTIVITY - 0 Stable

SECTION II - HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS
If present, carcinogens and chemicals subject to reporting are identified in this section:

INGREDIENTS %(By Volume) Note

No hazardous ingredients present; not hazardous to humans, animals or plants.

SECTION III - PHYSICAL DATA
BOILING POINT: >100 °C
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 1.2 (25°c)
VAPOR PRESSURE: N/D
SOLUBILITY IN WATER: Complete
VAPOR DENSITY: Air = 1
MELTING POINT: N/A
% VOLATILE BY VOLUME: 0
EVAPORATION RATE: Equal to water
APPERANCE AND ODOR: Brown liquid; mild
pH OF SOLUTION: 3.5

SECTION IV - FIRE AND EXPLOSION INFORMATION
FLASH POINT: N/A
EXPLOSION LIMIT: 0
EXTINGUISHING: N/A
FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES: N/A
SPECIAL FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS: None
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION BYPRODUCTS: None

SECTION V - HEALTH HAZARD DATA
HEALTH HAZARDS: None
CARCINOGENICITY: Non-carcinogenic
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC OVEREXPOSURE: None
PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL: None; see Section II
PRIMARY ROUTES OF ENTRY: Skin contact, Eye contact, Ingestion, Inhalation
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE:
SKIN - None
EYES - May cause eye irritation
INHALATION - None
INGESTION - May cause gas

FIRST AID:
IF ON SKIN - None
IF ON EYES - Flush with fresh water
IF INHALED - None
IF INGESTED - Drink fresh water

SECTION VI - REACTIVITY DATA
INCOMPATIBILITY: None
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: Will not occur
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION OR BYPRODUCTS: None; biodegradable
STABILITY: Stable, not effected by freezing. No toxic fumes.

SECTION VII - SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURES
IN CASE OF LEAK OR SPILL: Mop up with fresh water, sewer disposal
WASTE DISPOSAL METHOD: Sewer disposal
HANDLING AND STORING PRECAUTIONS: Store at room temperature
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Not recommended for human consumption

SECTION VIII - PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO BE USED
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: None
VENTILATION: None
PROTECTIVE GLOVES: Optional
EYE PROTECTION: Safety glasses recommended
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: None
WORK PRACTICES: Clean up spills immediately; floor will be slick