Fire Ashes in the Garden

eusap

We burn turf in our stove and during the winter most of our waste bin is Ash, is there any benefit to using this in the garden?

magicbastarder

turf ash and wood ash can be used in the garden. high in potash, but best sprinkled rather than piled, it can get wet and claggy.

Skrynesaver

Or used as an additive to dry up grass heavy compost.

Mattdhg

While it contains the good nutrients, like Carbon, it also contains the bad stuff like heavy metals. So better give it a nice thin distribution

Graces7

Makes excellent cat litter too, then rainwashed...

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

While turf and wood ash are reasonable additives they do need to be well mixed with compost or spread very thinly. If you use any coal whatsoever the ash is not suitable for the garden.

pwurple

Zendaya Tasty Graphics wrote: »

If you use any coal whatsoever the ash is not suitable for the garden.

Why do you say this? I have used coal ash to break up clay-like soil, and subsequently plant with woodland plants, with no ill effects.

magicbastarder

coal contains lots of stuff you don't want in your garden.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_coal_ash

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

pwurple wrote: »

Why do you say this? I have used coal ash to break up clay-like soil, and subsequently plant with woodland plants, with no ill effects.

Far too many dangerous or toxic elements in coal. Plants may grow but the soil is being contaminated. Never grow edible crops near it.

Storm 10

Graces7 wrote: »

Makes excellent cat litter too, then rainwashed...

Would there not be a terrible mess when the cat comes out of the litter tray and walks around the house with ash on his paws could not be good for him when he starts to clean his paws

Hocus Focus

pwurple wrote: »

Why do you say this? I have used coal ash to break up clay-like soil, and subsequently plant with woodland plants, with no ill effects.

All very well for growing flowers, but if vegetables were subsequently grown at the same location they would contain toxic trace elements.

Hocus Focus

We use only peat briquettes and home grown logs on the fire, and the kindling is usually untreated softwood. I sprinkle some of the ashes on the garden and add some to the compost. The surplus goes into the brown bin, after all it is organic waste.

eusap

i am sure our brown bin says no ashes on it

Hocus Focus

No, that's the black bin. It says "No hot ashes"