Wood Ash

[Gorsty]

Happy Christmas everyone!

Have just had a wood burning stove installed and its producing lots & lots of wood ash.

Our garden is heavy clay & although I haven't done a PH test yet - assume it will be acidic - so that wood ash will do some good there but how else can it be used around the garden?

If this cold weather continues the stove's going to be in constant use - thought about buying a metal dustbin (or two or three) to store wood ash in!

[Snadger]

I have a woodburner at the allotment. I mainly use the ash around my numerouse hard and soft fruit bushes/trees.

If I had enough I would also use it in the brassica bed!

[chriscross1966]

Ash on brassicas?... it's normally acidic isn't it, I'd have thoguht it was the last thing for brassicas.... spuds perhaps....

I've used BBQ ash on tomatoes and they seem to like it...

chrisc

[Bulbaholic]

We have a wood burner and use the ash on just about anything in the garden It is a source of potassium and so is particularly good for root development. Just don't spread it thickly.

[Snadger]

Ash on brassicas?... it's normally acidic isn't it, I'd have thoguht it was the last thing for brassicas.... spuds perhaps....

I've used BBQ ash on tomatoes and they seem to like it...

chrisc

Erm............methinks wood ash is alkaline and can be used instead of garden lime! Chicken poo is alkaline also...apparently!

[Snadger]

Taken from link below!

"Applying wood ashes also will raise soil pH. Wood ashes contain up to 70 percent calcium carbonate, as well as potassium, phosphorus, and many trace elements. Because it is powdery, wood ash is a fast-acting liming material. Be careful, a little goes a long way. Limit your application to 2 pounds per 100 square feet and only apply it every other year in a particular area."

Acid or Alkaline? What pH Means in Gardenspeak

[Bigmallly]

Thanks for the above link Snadger, very useful.........Wonder if you could clarify one point. Rhubarb is in 2 lists. Which one is correct?.......Thanks

[expat/france]

we also have woodburning stove/cooker and wood ash is a valuable comodity. it will break up clay beautifully but can lock up magnesium in the soil so take care how much you use. i once put it round a wisteria and it took two years for the plant to recover and only then with a great deal of careful feeding. use it round your fruit bushes/trees in the spring and anywhere that potash is required

[Snadger]

Thanks for the above link Snadger, very useful.........Wonder if you could clarify one point. Rhubarb is in 2 lists. Which one is correct?.......Thanks

Rhubarb will grow anywhere!

[Bigmallly]

Cheers mate.