Wood Ash

[Graham & Brenda]

Now that we've started having the fire again we're producing loads of wood ash. It seems a shame to dump it if it has a use. I know it is good to add to  some soil types -  ours here (16) is well drained, so not sure if it would help or not. Also is it any good for adding to my compost bin - or for anything else in fact?

Thanks,

Graham

[Millymollymandy]

Yes you can put the wood ash in your compost heap, we always do. Just don't put the ash from barbecue charcoal in.

[0Helen]

Fresh wood ash is excellent as a slug deterrent around pots and tubs and around the edges of veg. beds.  It is not suitable for placing around young plants until it has aged. It makes a good additive to the compost bin.

[Pucette<P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Pucette<FONT><P><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">"Qui ne connaît pas la campagne lhiver, ne connaît pas la campagne et ne connaît pas]

At this time of the year I sprinkle it round anything on the potager that I'm hoping to see survive the winter, I believe it helps harden them up; it's high in potash so good for fruit and flowers, so I put some round the strawberries and soft fruit bushes; in the spring I sprinkle it around bulbs, particularly in grass, and under fruit trees and occasionally use it as a barrier against slugs as suggested above, but it only works until it rains which it does a lot here in spring.