The smaller they are, the more dramatically plants may react to the sudden change in pH. Dust the ashes right onto the surface of your lawn , but mix it into the soil for best results in the garden. Oh, and if you live in a naturally alkaline area, like some of our Oklahoma and Texas listeners, you shouldn't add any ash to your lawn or garden. Instead, try using large amounts to kill problem weeds like kudzu and thistle by raising their soil's pH to plant-deadly levels—horticultural vinegar in reverse!
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Garden Fertilizers Alive! Email Oops, there seems to be an error, please re-enter your email address. Don't Miss Out! Oops, there seems to be an error, please re-enter your email address. Thank You You will get notification once new article is posted. If your soil pH is alkaline, meaning it has a pH above 7. Check the weather conditions before you compost your wood ash. Avoid composting ash on windy days, when the ash is likely to blow and scatter. Wear gloves, a face mask and eye protection when handling ashes, advises Oregon State University Extension Service.
The fine particles from ash are easily inhaled, and the alkalinity can irritate your skin. Collect the ash with a shovel or scoop and place it in a bag for transporting to the compost pile.
Do not use ash from black walnut trees Juglans nigra , which grow in U. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Wood ash contains potassium and calcium in considerable quantities, as well as lesser amounts of magnesium and phosphorus, and micronutrients such as copper and zinc. Due to its high level of calcium, it can increase the pH of soil, making it an ideal natural substitute for lime, an amendment often used to balance soil that is too acidic.
It can be a very useful amendment where acidity is too high for growing most veggies, in a pH range of 6. If the soil is already neutral or alkaline, adding ashes will cause excess alkalinity and add soluble salts, ultimately doing more harm than good.
Before adding ashes or any other amendment, for that matter to your garden, be sure to get your soil tested! You can buy home pH test kits or meters at your local hardware store or online, though I would recommend getting a test from your local extension office at least once.
The results of these tests are more comprehensive and they will tell you a whole lot about your soil, including information about any other nutrient deficiencies. Add some water to moisten the soil in the second cup, then add baking soda.
Fizz this time means it is acidic. It is still a good idea to get a more accurate test when you are able. In the meantime, however, this simple method should at least give you a general sense of whether the soil is acidic or alkaline. The key is to add small amounts of cooled ashes to a new or uncooked pile. Additionally, once the compost nears maturity, the addition of ash could raise the pH too much, increasing the bioavailability of heavy metals to harmful levels.
Before you start, be sure to suit up with gloves, eye protection, and a mask to avoid any potential irritation to the skin, eyes, or lungs.
Also, ensure that the ashes have completely cooled before handling them. Sprinkle the ash onto your compost pile along with the appropriate ratio of brown and green material. What does this mean? Add about a quarter inch for each inch section of browns and for every six inches of greens. Be sure to turn the pile each time you add new material. As a reminder, browns include carbon rich materials such as straw, hay, and dried leaves, while greens are more nitrogen heavy items such as kitchen scraps and fresh grass clippings.
To learn more on the basics of composting, check out this article. Avoid using fireplace or wood ashes from pressure-treated wood, painted wood and cardboard. They carry chemicals that can harm plants. The same goes for charcoal residue from BBQ grills, fake fireplace logs and coal. Those should go to the landfill. Wood ash can be used sparingly in gardens, spread thinly over lawns and stirred thoroughly into compost piles.
Lawns needing lime and potassium benefit from wood ash — 10 to 15 pounds per 1, square feet, Perry said. Spreading wood ash on compost piles keeps the acidity level near neutral.
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