use of ash, and contents of dyson...

Ok - probably better to do 2 seperate threads, but here goes!

We burn quite a bit of firewood during the winter (bought locally, so probably from managed woodland, looks to be mostly beech), and so get quite a bit of ash from it. I tend to sprinkle the ash around my redcurrant and blackcurrant, and also along the base of the privet hedge. Is this good use of the woodash? Are there other plants that would appreciate it (have a bucketful looking for a home!) If it helps we have spring bulbs, privet hedges - oh, so much hedging - veg plot, fruit trees (in large pots, as hope to move house soon), rose bushes, self-sown mahonia everywhere, hydrangas, forsythia, honeysuckle, wisteria... I think you get the idea!

When I empty the dyson, I find myself looking at the mix of dust, fine dried mud, and fine dog-hair (thanks dogs for last 2 contributions!), and wonder why people say not to put the contents on the compost heap. I did do so once, and found the layer when I did my heap-turn 4 months later. Is it possible to compost house-dust from a vacuum? Do I just need to make sure it's sprinkled / turned more thoroughly? Or do I need to continue to put it in the non-recyle rubbish bag?

 

My wood-ash goes on soft fruit and Brassicas (because wood ash is mostly Lime with some Potash)

Contents of vacuum cleaner goes onto compost heap (well, I put it in the kitchen compost-bin, so it gets mixed with veg / fruit etc. before it gets to the compost heap)

 

Like Kristen I use any wood ash on my fruit trees. I've never really enough to use much on my veg bed.
As far as regards the contents of the Dyson I think the only reason that some folk say not to add it to the compost heap is that it may contain nylon fibres and these don't compost.

 

My husband often burns wood shavings etc., and I tend to use the ash on soft fruit (as has already been suggested).

I don't have a bagless vacuum (being an old fashioned sort!), but I always empty the paper bags and re-use them until they fall to pieces. The contents often get sprinkled on the compost - but then I have 6 compost bins scattered around the garden so no one gets very much at the time.

 

Oh - thank you for your replies, very helpful!

So I'm obviously using the ash in the correct places (just need more fruit bushes, hubby dear, as we have some ash left over ).

Re the vacuum contents, I think I will try to use it, rather than waste it. We don't have any man-made rugs - all wool, cotton, wooden boards or tiles, so it should compost. I will make sure that I spread it across the surface of the growing heap, so it gets well mixed with the coffee grounds, etc.