Wood ash - how to use it?
Does anyone use wood ash on their garden? I've read quite a bit online but I'm confused. Monty Don wrote an article about using it around his soft fruit because it's high in potassium and I've heard that soil living pests don't like it. But I've also read that because ash is alkaline and is released quickly into the soil it changes the pH quickly and can lock away nutrients and soft fruit prefer slightly acid soils so using something that is alkaline isn't good for them.
Does anyone else find that there's quite a lot of contradictory info out there for the novice grower?
Views: 293
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Flighty on -
I add wood ash to the compost heap, which I empty and use once a year.
Yes there is plenty of, indeed far too much, contradictory information around! I've always found that most generally sound advice comes from fellow gardeners and allotmenteers.
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Permalink Reply by Debbie on -
I agree with Flighty as it's better distributed if it's added to the compost.
Flighty said:I add wood ash to the compost heap, which I empty and use once a year.
Yes there is plenty of, indeed far too much, contradictory information around! I've always found that most generally sound advice comes from fellow gardeners and allotmenteers.
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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on -
Round here they regularly cut and burn the gorse on the marshes and leave convenient piles of wood ash for me to collect. In my hurry to add potash to the tattie patch I gave it a good sprinkle and ended up with.....badly scabbed potatoes. It definitely is alkaline and should be used with care. Brassicas probably wouldn't mind it so much.
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Permalink Reply by Mo on -
It's a minefield :) There are so many variants. It depends on your soil, what you are growing...and how much you know about your wood ash. For example, Colin knows what was burned to make the ash he uses. Hardwood ash is more 'potent' than soft wood ash.
We only use our wood ash as a direct application on our onion/garlice beds. We keep a separate ash pile and sprinkle some onto our compost heaps at intervals, or when adding other stuff.
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on -
There are many many soft fruits that prefer and acid soil - raspberries and hybrid berries for a start!
Wood ash is fantastic and should be spread straight onto the veg / fruit patch. Use it on your raspberries and hybrid berries (as previously mentioned). Alliums do well on it to - so your Winter planted garlic and onion sets will love it.
As for the excess, use it on the bed you are manuring this year.
My only to tip would be to rake it out as soon as you tip it out - otherwise a damp day or two will turn the heap into something resembling concrete!
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Permalink Reply by Mo on
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Stephen, I'm confused by your post. Wood Ash is alkaline. You say raspberries prefer acid but then say give them wood ash?
Stephen Shirley said:There are many many soft fruits that prefer and acid soil - raspberries and hybrid berries for a start!
Wood ash is fantastic and should be spread straight onto the veg / fruit patch. Use it on your raspberries and hybrid berries (as previously mentioned). Alliums do well on it to - so your Winter planted garlic and onion sets will love it.
As for the excess, use it on the bed you are manuring this year.
My only to tip would be to rake it out as soon as you tip it out - otherwise a damp day or two will turn the heap into something resembling concrete!
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Permalink Reply by Simon baldwin on -
Right... i have a large pile of wood ash from a previous bonfire... it sounds like the best place to put it is on my allium bed. What sort of rate should i spread it on at?
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on
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Ah, now that would be because gardening is a science - but not an exact science!
Trust me - they will be fine. Just as I uses Mushroom compost on my raspberries about every 1 year in 3 - and that's full of lime!
Mo said:Stephen, I'm confused by your post. Wood Ash is alkaline. You say raspberries prefer acid but then say give them wood ash?
Stephen Shirley said:There are many many soft fruits that prefer and acid soil - raspberries and hybrid berries for a start!
Wood ash is fantastic and should be spread straight onto the veg / fruit patch. Use it on your raspberries and hybrid berries (as previously mentioned). Alliums do well on it to - so your Winter planted garlic and onion sets will love it.
As for the excess, use it on the bed you are manuring this year.
My only to tip would be to rake it out as soon as you tip it out - otherwise a damp day or two will turn the heap into something resembling concrete!
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on
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About 4oz per square yard - but to tickle it in otherwise it will form a semi water retardant crust.
Simon baldwin said:
Right... i have a large pile of wood ash from a previous bonfire... it sounds like the best place to put it is on my allium bed. What sort of rate should i spread it on at?
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Permalink Reply by Mo on
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"Trust me, I'm a gardener!" ? LOL That's a new one to me ;)
Stephen Shirley said:Ah, now that would be because gardening is a science - but not an exact science!
Trust me - they will be fine. Just as I uses Mushroom compost on my raspberries about every 1 year in 3 - and that's full of lime!
Mo said:Stephen, I'm confused by your post. Wood Ash is alkaline. You say raspberries prefer acid but then say give them wood ash?
Stephen Shirley said:There are many many soft fruits that prefer and acid soil - raspberries and hybrid berries for a start!
Wood ash is fantastic and should be spread straight onto the veg / fruit patch. Use it on your raspberries and hybrid berries (as previously mentioned). Alliums do well on it to - so your Winter planted garlic and onion sets will love it.
As for the excess, use it on the bed you are manuring this year.
My only to tip would be to rake it out as soon as you tip it out - otherwise a damp day or two will turn the heap into something resembling concrete!
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Permalink Reply by Debbie on
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*smile*
Mo said:"Trust me, I'm a gardener!" ? LOL That's a new one to me ;)
Stephen Shirley said:Ah, now that would be because gardening is a science - but not an exact science!
Trust me - they will be fine. Just as I uses Mushroom compost on my raspberries about every 1 year in 3 - and that's full of lime!
Mo said:Stephen, I'm confused by your post. Wood Ash is alkaline. You say raspberries prefer acid but then say give them wood ash?
Stephen Shirley said:There are many many soft fruits that prefer and acid soil - raspberries and hybrid berries for a start!
Wood ash is fantastic and should be spread straight onto the veg / fruit patch. Use it on your raspberries and hybrid berries (as previously mentioned). Alliums do well on it to - so your Winter planted garlic and onion sets will love it.
As for the excess, use it on the bed you are manuring this year.
My only to tip would be to rake it out as soon as you tip it out - otherwise a damp day or two will turn the heap into something resembling concrete!
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on
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Had never thought of it in a 'chat up sort of way' - and interesting concept!
Mo said:
"Trust me, I'm a gardener!" ? LOL That's a new one to me ;)
Stephen Shirley said:Ah, now that would be because gardening is a science - but not an exact science!
Trust me - they will be fine. Just as I uses Mushroom compost on my raspberries about every 1 year in 3 - and that's full of lime!
Mo said:Stephen, I'm confused by your post. Wood Ash is alkaline. You say raspberries prefer acid but then say give them wood ash?
Stephen Shirley said:There are many many soft fruits that prefer and acid soil - raspberries and hybrid berries for a start!
Wood ash is fantastic and should be spread straight onto the veg / fruit patch. Use it on your raspberries and hybrid berries (as previously mentioned). Alliums do well on it to - so your Winter planted garlic and onion sets will love it.
As for the excess, use it on the bed you are manuring this year.
My only to tip would be to rake it out as soon as you tip it out - otherwise a damp day or two will turn the heap into something resembling concrete!
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