Any use for this ash?

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by Fidgetsmum, Apr 16, 2010.

  1. Fidgetsmum

    Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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    Each time Mr. F'sMum has had a bonfire in the garden incinerator, the ash - mainly from softwood - has been carefully tipped into heap. This 'heap' has been there for some time and I'd estimate is now about half a cubic metre.

    Our garden is used exclusively to grow flowers and shrubs ('himself' shares an allotment elsewhere) and has a pH of around 6.8. I've read conflicting suggestions about putting ash in a compost heap so haven't done this, but I'm sure I can do something with it.

    What's the best use I can put it to in the garden?
     
  2. moonrakermagpie

    moonrakermagpie Gardener

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  3. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I use wood ash on my garden and have done so for over 40 years. It is easy enough to just sprinkle it on the surface of the soil, but not more than half an inch deep, and do it every few years. Some of the nutrients will have been leached from the ash just by being expose to the elements. It helps to promote green leafy growth and make the plants look healthier.

    Don't spread it around plants that prefer acid soils.

    Slugs and snails are not keen on crossing an ashy surface as it sticks to their undercarriage :hehe: so it is a good deterrent.
     
  4. Tiarella

    Tiarella Optimistic Gardener

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    I've been told onions like it - is that right?
     
  5. NewbieGreen

    NewbieGreen Gardener

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    Is volcanic ash good for our gardens? :D
     
  6. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

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    Yes and so do tomatoes, fruit bushes and trees.

    The potassium (K) content is high, though ash from green material is higher in K than that from dry material.
     
  7. Fidgetsmum

    Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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    My thanks for your suggestions (this is only wood ash I'm afraid - I'm guessing the volcanic type is yet to fall). Since the pH of my soil is about 6.8, I'm loathe to start spreading the ash about and the only crop I grow here is a few tomatoes.

    I'm actually wondering whether I have any use for it after all, especially since the 'heap' has been gradually accumulating over a period of months, and much I've read on 'the net' seems to suggest that in such circumstances, most of any nutrients will in fact have leached out (through rain etc) during this time - would this be correct?
     
  8. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Only some of it would have been leached out. If you have a heavy (clay) soil it will also be of some help as a soil conditioner.

    The pheasants that visit our garden absolutely love it for their dust baths :yho: and the smaller birds use it to some extent. When the pheasants have eventually made a nice bowl shaped indentation in the soil then Oscar the cat finds it very comfortable to sleep in k-l.

    So we all gain by it. :gnthb:
     
  9. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    :lollol:
     
  10. Sussexgardener

    Sussexgardener Gardener

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    Hopefully it'll fall then and stop the slugs, if they hate it that much!
     
  11. terrier

    terrier Gardener

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    I hope some of this volcanic ash rains on my garden, it could do with a nutrient boost :hehe: I use wood ash raked into the soil in the chook run as it can counteract the acidity caused by their droppings and, like the garden birds, hens like a nice dust bath as well.
     
  12. Fidgetsmum

    Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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    We have the mixed blessing of sandy soil - easy to dig but always hungry. If our cat thinks she's going to get yet another place to loll about, then she's going to be bitterly disappointed! I think I may use it to foil those pesky slugs what are queuing up to munch on my emerging lupins and delphiniums et al.
     
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