I need some ideas on what I can do with all the wood ash from our wood furnace and fire place. In the winter we use it like salt on the snow and ice. But what can I use it for now? Is it good in the garden?
By Donna from Foymount, Ontario
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I use ours around our rose bushes and it helps them be so full of color and around my Azalea bushes.
I've read that SOME ash in a vegetable garden is ok but too much is bad. Since I don't know how much is too much I don't put any.
I believe ashes are alkaline, so don't use so much the soil pH gets unbalanced.
If you have evergreens in your yard especially near gardens or flower beds, the soil may become to acidic, causing plants and grass to die. You can get a ph tester and check to see how acid your soil is. If it is highly acidic, wood ash will neutralize it if you dig it into the soil.
If you have a compost pile, that's a great place to put them.
Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I can use many of them.
CAll your local extension service, they may ask what you plant in the garden or tell you what kinds of areas in the yard you can dispose of this at.
This was truly the best advice so far! There are too many possible variables to say that wood ash is a good idea for your garden or even your compost bin. Wood ash is alkaline, and it only provides a small amount of useable potassium for the soil.
Volunteer master gardeners at your county extension office will know local details from pests and diseases to what plants grow best and what is the general soil quality of your area. They can help you know how much wood ash, if any, you should place in your garden, under a specific plant, or in general compost bin.
They can also help you make a balanced bin if you truly want to put wood ash in it.
Here are some better ways to use your fireplace ashes:
www.thisoldhouse.com/
You can actually buy Real Wood Ashes on Amazon. Just found it!
www.amazon.com/
1 Pound of Oak Wood Ash (Ashes Natural Fertilizer, Change PH Levels in Soil, Ward Off Slugs, Protect Plants Over Winter, Control Pond Algae, Boost Your Organic Tomato Plants, Compost, Make Soap, Shine Silver)
I just used ashes out of my woos burning stove for staining wood. I looks nice.
Step 1
1. Poured vinegar into Ashes. 2. Stirred it.
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