A lot of people still don't know about Lawn Bokashi. This is a natural fertilizer that you can easily make yourself.
Most hobby gardeners underestimate lawn clippings and simply dispose of them in the compost or green bin. You can use it as a fertilizer and soil conditioner. How do you ask? Very simply by making Bokashi from it. Do you now understand even less than before? Then let's first explain what Bokashi is.
What is Bokashi?
Bokashi is Japanese and means "fermented organic matter". So it's a fertilizer. However, this is of much higher quality and better than mature compost. And it is also not that time-consuming and expensive to produce.
In normal composting, the reaction takes place with the help of oxygen. And that usually takes a long time. The situation is completely different when it comes to the production of bokashi. Here the organic material, in our case lawn clippings, is inoculated with EM. EM are effective microorganisms in the garden, which convert the lawn clippings into a high-quality and valuable fertilizer within a few weeks.
In principle, you can use almost any biological waste to make bokashi. For example kitchen waste. All you need is a Bokashi Compost Bucket:
Since most people don't know what to do with the lawn clippings anyway, it makes sense to use them to make a valuable fertiliser.
How does Bokashi work?
Now the only question that remains is what is so special about Bokashi and why it is better than compost. Quite simply: Bokashi offers a number of many convincing advantages:
- promotes soil he alth
- Stimulates root growth
- increases the resistance of plants
- Inhibits weed growth
- increases the quality and yield of the crop
- keeps snails away
As you can see, Bokashi has many good advantages. It is definitely worth using Bokashi in the garden.
To make Lawn Bokashi you will need:
- Mowing
- Effective microorganisms/EM-A solution (available in garden stores)
- Water
- dark plastic bag
- Bucket or Bin
How to Make Lawn Bokashi
Step 1: Pre-treat and mow the lawn
The best time to make the Lawn Bokashi is in the fall. So you have a good fertilizer for spring right away. To do this, on a cloudy day or in the evening, spray the lawn lightly with a backpack sprayer or a spray bottle with EM-A solution (pure up to 20 ml / 1 L). Then mow the lawn and catch it in a grass catcher.
Step 2: Pack grass clippings airtight
Now take a dark, sturdy plastic bag and place it in a large bucket or bin. Then fill in the lawn clippings, press the air out of the plastic bag and then seal it airtight.
Step 3: Maturing Bokashi
Now put the bucket or barrel in a warm, shady place and let the bokashi mature for about 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, vitamin-rich, high-quality material is created by the work of the effective microorganisms in the absence of air.
After 4 to 6 weeks you can use the lawn bokashi as mulch. Especially in winter, for example, a layer of mulch about 3 cm thick on the beds is good to protect them in the cold season. Be sure to keep the Lawn Bokashi away from sensitive plants, as the Lawn Bokashi is too hot for them.
» Tip: Make sure that the bag is always airtight and you can keep the valuable bokashi in it for up to a year.