come up out if wood ash is good for the garden and how to employ it effectively to fertilize industrial plant .
While the ash from wildfire can facilitate nourish unexampled ontogenesis , is forest ash good for the garden ? Yes , the ash from your wood - burning fireplace can helpimprove your garden dirt . Wood ash has nutrients plant need , likepotassium and morning star , so it can be a way of life to feed flora in your garden . However , too much wood ash can be detrimental so it ’s important to sleep together where and when to use it . The following expert top will help you use wood ash in the garden safely and effectively .
Chelsea McKinleyis a plant health specialist at theU.S. Botanic Gardenin Washington , D.C. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Horticulture Science .
Credit:Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images
Helin Loik - Tomson / Getty Images
Tips for Using Wood Ash in the Garden
Keep these tips in nous to make the most of wood ash in your garden while keep off damage to your plants .
1. Raise Soil pH
Wood ash has a in high spirits pH , usually around 10 to 12 , tell Chelsea McKinley , works wellness specializer at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington , D.C. Most plant opt a grease pH of around 6.5 . If your soil is acidic ( lower than 6.5 ) and you desire to neutralize it , wood ash is a good direction to bring up the pH. “ Think of Mrs. Henry Wood ash tree as analternative to birdlime , ” McKinley says .
2. Fertilize Vegetable Gardens
woodwind ash tree check 25 % to 50 % calcium , McKinley sound out . Calcium is a trace constituent that aid plants heyday and yield , so tot it to territory can benefit a veg garden . Calcium also helpsprevent blossom end rot in tomatoes , capsicum , squash , and watermelons , a disease when grow yield does n’t get enough atomic number 20 .
Test your soilbefore using woodwind instrument ash or any othersoil amendment . You need to acknowledge your current dirt conditions to know what it needs to nourish and support plants .
woodwind instrument ash also hold in 5 - 7 % potassium and 1.5 - 2 % phosphoric , both of which are essential nutrients for your plants , so wood ash tree can make a decent fertilizer . McKinley suppose there are better fertilizers that will cede more nutrients without changing land pH. “ If your soil pH is proficient , I ’d look into other fertilizers , ” she say .
Do n’t use wood ash tree around acid - loving plants . It raise filth pH , so do n’t put it aroundblueberry bushes , azaleas , camellias , or other works that like broken - pH , acidulent stain .
3. Mix Wood Ash with Soil Before Planting
Wood ash can burn seedling , plant root , and leaf due to its in high spirits pH. “ It needs to be diluted with soil , ” McKinley says . Rake it into the soil exhaustively before plant seeds or transplants .
4. Put Wood Ash in Your Compost Pile
Use small amounts of wood ash tree in acompost pileto lose weight the sour . Higher pH improves conditions for composting worms and bring on alkaline compost that makesgreat mulch for veggie garden . summate a few handfuls of woods ash tree to your compost mass for every 6 inches of material and mix well . Use a light touch because sum up too much wood ash to your compost can make it too alkaline and slacken down decomposition .
Do n’t use ash tree from coal , charcoal briquette , or treated timber on food crops . The ash tree may contain substances that are toxic to people .
5. Lower Your Carbon Footprint
Using wood ashswept from your fireplaceis an eco - friendly alternative to buy lime , wood ash , and fertilizer manufactured in a distant city and truck to your local big box storehouse . It ’s also more desirable than broadcast it to a landfill . You have the ashes ; you might as well reuse them in your garden or compost muckle if your soil is acidic . And that way , your winter fires can be transformed into summer tomatoes .
