bonfire...

[heebiejeebie]

I have some branches that have been in my woodpile for the last 1-2 years. I have chopped them up and was going to have a (small, well-controlled) bonfire on the plot where the potatoes were dug up a few days ago.

Can I spread the ash over the soil and dig it in?

(anyone near me with a wood burning stove is welcome to the wood - a mixture of leylandii and yew with the soft stuff cut off, diameters ranging from 1cm to 10cm, about a bootful)

[Snadger]

I would think you would be ok to spread and dig ash in as long as you aren't winter cropping that area! If so it would be probably better to put it in a heap to 'weather' as it may be a bit 'hot' for new roots.

I have a wood burning stove at lottie, but it's a bit too far to travel for fuel!
Just out of interest I made the stove myself and have been busying myself as time permits with building a stone fireplave and flue around it! Starting to look rather posh in the greenhouse just now. I'll put some revised piccies on when i'm finished!
Have a nice bonny!

[heebiejeebie]

Maybe I should invite the neighbours round for a cookout!

The fire will be in an old dustbin so when it has all cooled down I will tip it into the compost bin and give it a stir.

[Nicos]

Thanks for the offer of wood but got plenty at the moment!
Interestingly yew is said to burn with a 'cold' flame . I think it means that you get a blue flame( instead of an orange/yellow one ) rather than it doesn't give off much heat.

[heebiejeebie]

All reduced to a remarkably small pile of ash.

I saw no blue in the flame, but plenty of red and orange. Especially when the feathery bits that were once green but had gone all brown and dry went in! Had to put those in small batches or the fire would have been too big for its bucket.

Got no choice about where the ash went as the bottom had rusted out of the bucket in places. Good for getting air in for an efficient burn, bad for retaining the ash afterwards!

[Nicos]

OOOhhh...I love a good bonfire....bet the smell was wonderful????

[heebiejeebie]

ooh yes - tempted to go and take another 2ft off my leylandii hedges just so I can have another aromatic bonfire next year!

[CarolineSonning]

I've just dug out 3/4 of an enormous rosemary bush (about 4ft x 4ft) and can't wait to get that burning later this week.

I wonder if you can bottle bonfire smoke .

[Snadger]

I've just dug out 3/4 of an enormous rosemary bush (about 4ft x 4ft) and can't wait to get that burning later this week.

I wonder if you can bottle bonfire smoke .

I lay small sprigs of rosemary on top of my wood burning stove.........just to fill the greenhouse with a nice aroma!
I wonder whether it has fumigation properties as I have had no bother with greenflies or other sap sucking insects??

[Nicos]

We put sprigs of rosemary on the BBQ- lovely scent!!!!!

[Polly Fouracre]

I put the ash from my Rayburn(I only burn wood on it) around my fruit trees and bushes in February.They seem to do well on it(this year excepted,due to rain)
Would it benefit my tomatoes,courgettes,etc.?