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Uses for wood ash?

TriciaBTriciaB Posts: 37
in Fruit & veg

Because the local tip is closed husband has burnt various bits of wood etc (old bamboo canes particularly) and would like to know the best use of the ash. We have raspberry canes, which I think he dressed with potash last summer but is it too early for this, or any other suggestions for using the ash please. TIA.

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd add it to the compost bins.
    Devon.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We add it to compost bins as well.  Better diluted. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    edited April 2020
    I've just removed a bucket load of ash from the wood burner. I put a (very) thin layer in the compost bin and sprinkled the rest round the fruit trees.
    If you put too thick a layer in the compost bin it can form quite a solid, very alkaline pan. (Muppet me has been there, done that!).  Best to mix it through. 
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I believe, ( might be wrong ) that ash from woodburners is fairly low in potash. Only ash from twiggy , garden bonfire, type ash is high.
    Devon.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I don’t know, but I thought Wood was Wood in whatever form.
    I would still mix it in with the compost.
    Talking of which, the farm along the road had got lovely bags of horse poo so that’s going to be mixed in ours today.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    Raspberries like acidity, and wood ash raises alkalinity, so I think they are one of the edibles for which it is not advised. Also potatoes, other berries, other acid lovers. However, it's supposed to be good for brassicas (raising pH helps avoid club root), and most other veg likes slight alkalinity so good for them too. Everything I've read seems to advise quite small amounts though, so while I've kept a tub of it for the veg patch, most of mine goes on the compost heap.

    PS @Hostafan1, I was intrigued by the distinction between bonfire and wood burner ash, not having come across that before. According to this from the RHS (https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=621), younger, snappier twigs are higher in potassium than older, thicker, seasoned wood, which explains it 🙂
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    That's what I like about this forum @Hostafan1 and @LG_   -  every day's a school day🙂

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    Just noticed my autocorrect above. 'Sappier', which I intended, is rather the opposite of 'snappier'!
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
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