For gardeners, wood ash is a secret weapon. It’s a great source of calcium and lime, plus it provides many of the trace elements that plants need. Wood ash can be used to correct soil acidity, deter nuisance animals, prevent blossom end rot, and save plants from frost damage. Here’s a closer look at each of these uses for wood ash in the garden.
Correcting Soil Acidity
One of the most important uses for wood ash in the garden is correcting soil acidity. Over time, soil tends to become more acidic due to factors like rainfall and decomposing leaves and organic matter. This can be detrimental to plants, as they may have difficulty absorbing nutrients from the soil. Applying wood ash to your garden beds will help to neutralize the soil and make it more hospitable for plants.
Deters Nuisance Animals
Wood ash can also be used as a deterrent for nuisance animals like slugs, snails, and rodents. Sprinkling a layer of wood ash around your plants will create an unpleasant barrier that these creatures will not want to cross. Just be sure not to use too much ash, as it can also deter helpful insects like bees and butterflies.
Preventing Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is a common problem that affects fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and squash. This condition is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit, which causes the bottom part of the fruit to rot away. One way to prevent blossom end rot is by applying wood ash to the base of your plants. The calcium in the ash will help to fortify the fruits and vegetables and prevent this condition from occurring.
Saving Plants from Frost Damage
In areas where frost is a concern, sprinkling wood ash on top of plants can help to insulate them against the cold temperatures. The ash will create a barrier against the frost, helping to prevent damage to your plants. Just be sure to remove the ash once warmer weather arrives so that it doesn’t block sunlight from reaching your plants.
Making Superior Compost
Wood ash in compost is another great use for your wood ash – simply add it to your compost bin or compost heap. Wood ash to compost is a great ingredient for reducing smell especially if you’ve been a bit naughty and added meat or dairy products to your heap.
Preventing Moss in Lawns
Have a problem with lawn moss? The wood ash effectively ruins the soil for moss, killing it and encouraging grass to grow. I have greatly improved places in the lawn where thick moss was trying to take over.
Use in the Greenhouse
Wood Ashes are valuable, too, on greenhouse benches for the reception of pots. If dampened they help in retaining moisture and make a useful base and may prevent mildew and pests.
Wood Ash Pathways
Ash Paths. Useful paths that drain quickly can be made of ashes and cinders well compacted. The usual method, where sandstone paths are an easy alternative, is to make a cement wash, or use them for a concrete mixture, which makes a lasting weed-free pathway.
What Wood Ash To Use
If you want to use wood ash in your garden, it’s important that you use ash from trees that have been grown in natural areas. This is because industrial sites, contaminated soils and treated wood can all produce harmful chemicals that can be released into the environment when the wood is burned. Burning coal, garbage, oil or plastics should also be avoided, as these materials can release dangerous toxins into the air and into the ground. By only using wood ash from natural sources, you can help to protect your local environment.
I would never use wood ash on edible plants if I had used fuel like lighter fluid or fire starter logs with wood preservatives. The safest option for use in your edible garden is to know the source of the wood by having cut down the logs yourself. If you can’t be certain of the logs’ origin, avoid using them altogether in your garden. Better to be safe than sorry when it comes to consuming potentially harmful chemicals!
What Wood Ash Contains that plants love
Wood ash contains nutrients that can be beneficial for plant growth. Calcium is the most common nutrient, found in concentrations of up to 20%. Potassium and magnesium are also common, occurring at levels of 5% and 2% respectively. Wood ash can also contain trace amounts of iron, aluminum, manganese, zinc, boron and other important nutrients. Wood ash is a valuable resource for gardeners and farmers alike, providing essential nutrients for plants and helping to improve soil fertility.
How To Apply Wood Ash To Your Garden
Applying wood ash in the garden is a great way to add nutrients to the soil and help your plants grow. However, it is important to follow a few simple guidelines to ensure that you are using it correctly. I’ve found that the best time to apply the ash is in the winter, straight from the cooled fire place. A little goes a long way.
First, always sift your wood ash to remove any large pieces of charcoal or active embers. This will help prevent any damage to your plants.
Second, only apply the amount of wood ash recommended based on a soil fertility test and based on the nutrient needs of the plants that you intend to grow. Applying too much wood ash can lead to nutrient toxicity and/or nutrient deficiency issues in plants. Generally, it is recommended that you limit applications to 15-20 pounds per 1000 square feet per year. Finally, be sure to spread the wood ash evenly over the area you are treating.
Wood ash particles are very fine, they can easily be blown by the wind. This can cause problems as the particles may end up in areas where you don’t want them. To avoid this, try to apply wood ash to moist soil whenever possible. In addition, if you are working with a large area, it may be helpful to work the ash into the soil using a rotovator, spade or rake in early spring. This will help to distribute the wood ash more evenly and prevent any problems with wind blowing it away.
Wood Ash – A Warning
Wood ash is a by-product of burned wood, and it can potentially pose a human health risk due to fine partials and its alkalinity. Therefore, when working with wood ash, be sure to wear appropriate protective clothing to limit exposures that might lead to skin, eye or respiratory irritation. Some examples of appropriate protective clothing include long pants, long sleeve shirt, gloves, eye goggles, and a dust mask. By taking these precautions, you can help to ensure your safety when working with wood ash.
What plants the benefit most from wood ash
Most plants will benefit from the addition of wood ash to the soil. Wood ash contains a range of important minerals, including potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, which are essential for healthy plant growth. It also helps to increase the pH of the soil, making it more alkaline. This is beneficial for many plants, as it helps them to access key nutrients more easily.
Plants That Like Wood Ash
Plants that like wood ash include garlic, onions, scallions, chives, and leeks. Stone fruit trees like cherries and plums also grow well in soil that is moderately alkaline. Most root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, turnips, and radish, prefer the potash in wood ash because it helps the plants use water and resist drought. Peas, beans, asparagus, lettuce, and leafy greens grow best with nutrient-rich soil and like extra potassium. Vegetables that are susceptible to this disease, like cucumbers, squash, and peppers, just toss a handful of wood ash into the hole before planting.
And Plants the don’t…
However, there are a few plants which do not like wood ash and will not do well if it is added to their soil. These include acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, blueberries, red maples, birch trees and camellias. Avoid using wood ash around some fruit trees that like acidity, such as apples, pears, and peaches.
Avoid using it on any potatoes because potatoes like acidic soil, and wood ash can cause problems like potato scab.
So before you add wood ash to your garden, be sure to check which plants like it and which don’t.
How to store wood ash
If you have a wood-burning stove, then you’ll likely need to find a safe place to store your wood ash. The best way to do this is in a metal bin or container with a metal lid. Keep the container tightly shut; this will prevent any embers from reigniting when exposed to air. It’s also important to store the bin on a non-combustible surface, such as concrete, stone, or brick. Of course, keep it outside. These extra precautions may seem over the top, but it’s important to remember that wood ash can be dangerous if not handled properly. So, take the time to do it right, and you’ll be able to enjoy your wood-burning stove ash worry-free.
As you can see, wood ash can be a versatile tool for gardeners. Whether you’re looking to correct soil acidity or deter pests, wood ash can help you achieve your gardening goals. So don’t be afraid to put those ashes to good use! Your plants will thank you for it.
