Wood ash contains potash which is an essential ingredient in fertilisers for plants. however, yours may now be contaminated by whatever chemical was used to preserve your fence panels so I would not use it on any vegetables or fruits and I would check for info on teh vital component before putting it on flower beds.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I've had a look and the panels will most likely have been made from tanalised wood which contains arsenic so be very careful of the dust and ashes. Wear a mask to be safe.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Of course you can use it after it has burnt, what is the world coming to when people imagine a burnt fence will be toxic! Mind you the ashes will be next to useless as timber has very little nutrient content as compared to for example burning smaller branches and twigs.
I burn quite a few fires and extinguish them with water not letting the the fire 'burn through'. That way I get lovely black charcoal which will improve the physical structure of the soil- as well as retaining the potash and lime that wood ash contains. Google biochar to find out more
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Had the fence panels been treated?
Wood ash contains potash which is an essential ingredient in fertilisers for plants. however, yours may now be contaminated by whatever chemical was used to preserve your fence panels so I would not use it on any vegetables or fruits and I would check for info on teh vital component before putting it on flower beds.
The panels came from B & Q and I painted them with B&Q wood stain about 7 years ago
The branches were from my garden
Sounds like I should keep it off the soil
I've had a look and the panels will most likely have been made from tanalised wood which contains arsenic so be very careful of the dust and ashes. Wear a mask to be safe.
Thanks...the ash is wet and I have just swept it into a bucket for disposal
Didnt realise that gareden fences were so lethal Obelixx
Like many things, they are fine when used properly for their intended purpose. Disposal is another matter it seems.
Of course you can use it after it has burnt, what is the world coming to when people imagine a burnt fence will be toxic! Mind you the ashes will be next to useless as timber has very little nutrient content as compared to for example burning smaller branches and twigs.
I burn quite a few fires and extinguish them with water not letting the the fire 'burn through'. That way I get lovely black charcoal which will improve the physical structure of the soil- as well as retaining the potash and lime that wood ash contains. Google biochar to find out more
http://www.navitron.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9063.0
As Im not 100% happy the ash will be going in the wheelie bin tomorrow
Binned it now
Wood ashes contain only a small amount of potash (about one-twelfth of sulphate of potash) and best applied at the rate of 1/2lb to the square yard.
As for wood treatments, if they were water-based it should be okay to use on your plot.
Do your own metric conversion.