Wood Ash, what to do with it??

[tuppence]

Hi,

I have been told that wood ash is good for the garden. Would that be for flower borders, vegetables, lawns or where? I am a novice gardener but would like to recycle stuff. I have a composteur which I put grass after mowing, vegetable and fruit waste, eggshells etc. But now the winter is approaching I will have loads of wood ash to utilise.

tuppence

[ukhostland]

Hi Tuppence,

Wood ash contains Potasium, which is good for flowering and fruiting but is alkaline, so best avoided on limey soils and around plants which prefer acis conditions. Dont put piles of it either directly on the soil or in the compost bin, but small amounts can be very useful, mixed with other material.

Colin

[Fureys]

Hi Tuppence,

Hedges of all kinds thrive on ash, just spread out the ash in handfuls or use a trowel then rake or hoe the ash lightly into the soil beneath the hedge, after a couple of showers you won't even see it's there.

Fureys

[Hoddy]

In January I always put a panful around the base of my wisteria in the belief that it will encourage it to flower.

Hoddy

[Pommier]

We used to sprinkle it over any mossy areas as it killed the moss.