Schützenhofer family

Tips from the EM nursery

 

The Schützenhofer's family business in Rohr im Kremstal (Upper Austria) specialises in vegetable production, herbs, ornamental plants and floristry. It has been using Effective Microorganisms since 2003. The family has put together its recipe for a low-maintenance garden.

 

 

 

 

 

There are many good reasons to mulch, i.e. put plant materials on the soil:

  • Less work for you. Covering the ground = minimal weed germination, wind erosion, evaporation. That means fewer weeders and much less watering.
  • Protection for beneficial organisms and against pests: It stays nice and moist under the mulch layer, providing optimum conditions for earthworms etc. When combined with EM-Active (EMa), the dried mulch layer can also act as a barrier against snails.
  • Make use of "leftovers": "Leftovers" such as plant and grass cuttings can be made useful.
  • Build-up of humus: The mulch layer is processed and ends up as a fertiliser.
  • Mulched surfaces are also visually appealing.


Here's how to do it:

 

  • Treat the veg with Mest Best, EM-Ceramic Powder and basal rock dust before mulching. (see EM in horticulture)
  • Then apply a layer of mulch approx. 5 cm thick. You can use grass, plant cuttings, straw, hay or leaves – the greater the variety the better. (Watch out: if you use pure straw then you can have problems with rotting as the carbon-nitrogen ratio isn't suitable.)
  • Spray the surface with EMa (EM-Active) and MK 5 (approx. 0.5% solution). You may also wish to use Fermented Plants Extract (FPE).
  • The mulch layer takes about a month or a month and a half to break up; you will then need to re-mulch.

 

 

Rohr im Kremstal, July 2010