Using Ash

[DAVEM]

I have heard that the ash from wood fires makes for good fertilizer partcularly on fruits bushes/trees. Any comments?

[terrier]

Certainly does, but there's a lot of discussion as to how it should be used. Also, only wood that hasn't been treated some way, e.g. paint, creosote etc. I either sprinkle around fruit bushes and trees or add it to my compost bin.

[sewer rat]

As Terrier says, make sure that the wood has not been treated. If you're okay on that front then just apply a layer round any plants which are heavy potash feeders as wood ash is high in this particular element.

[Two_Sheds]

Onions particularly appreciate a dollop of wood ash. It washes away with rain though

[pigletwillie]

We put it around our fruit bushes (except blueberries) and as Two sheds says, our onions especially the garlic crop come spring.

[wayne]

i heard that it helps to keep away slugs and snails too as they dont like touching it with there sensitive skin or slime whatever... i have tried and think it worked, has anyone else heard of this?

[drichard12]

wayne I use a cup saucer with beer slugs love it. Kills em dead easy to clean without adding to the soil.

[wayne]

what a waste haha

[Sue]

Hi
I got a new cold frame for christmas from Two Wests and Elliott and in the instructions they recommend putting 3" of ash in the bottom to deter slugs. I don't have this much ash to spare so am mixing it with coffee grounds.
So far so good, my new delphiniums are untouched.
Sue

[eskymo]

I put the ash from our wood fire straight onto the compost bin - but that's mostly through ignorance as I have no idea what plants/veg would benefit from it.

[Flummery]

Lots do - I use it on my current onion patch. I only use wood ash though, as there are no residual chemical in it (it's not painted wood BTW, only garden prunings. I think fruit bushes would relish it too.

[Snadger]

Hi
I got a new cold frame for christmas from Two Wests and Elliott and in the instructions they recommend putting 3" of ash in the bottom to deter slugs. I don't have this much ash to spare so am mixing it with coffee grounds.
So far so good, my new delphiniums are untouched.
Sue

I think the ash they may be referring to is a bi-product from coal fired power stations, sold by the tonne very cheaply for making hardstanding areas?Better than dumping it out at sea and killing all the undersea plant life I suppose!

I burn all sorts in my woodburning stove but only use the ash on the paths of my allotment!

[Sue]

Snadger
Oh! Didn't even know there was such a thing, anyway been down to Starbucks and got 6 bags of coffee grounds to do the job instead. Smells lovely when you open the sliding top.
Sue

[Jardiniere]

I have a layer of wood ash on the bottom of my cold frame tent thing.....i used it last year as well and it worked reasonably well.....a few little tiddly slugs/snails got in at the edges ...i have more wood ash in the winter months than i know what to do with cos we heat the house with a wood burner (oak mainly)

[Winged one]

CAn I ask if wood mixed with peat ash is OK to use in the same way? As in, logs of wood and peat briquettes from the open fire at home, with no coal used? I sometimes have that sort of fire (usually have smokeless coal too, but not always) and would use it on veg if I thought it would help/be OK.