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Location

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Date Posted

Johnston, R.I.

How many people put wood ashes in their garden, and how much ? Something I have always been curious about...

12/30/2015 7:43:48 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I used ashes for years, but not real heavy. I live on a road surfaced with crushed limestone, so I get lime dust and don't want ashes to get my ph too high. It never added enough potash, so now I use 0-0-50. Most of the fireplace ashes go on the driveway to melt snow and ice and give a little traction in the winter. It works great for that.

12/30/2015 7:49:54 AM

Springfield, VT

I use them in the patch when not used elsewhere. Work fine to a calcium and potassium. All recommendations say no more than 50lbs per 1000 sq ft.

12/30/2015 8:34:54 AM

Waynesboro, Virginia

Years ago I threw some oak ashes on Silver Queen corn before it tassled.Just dumped it down the rows.The results were amazing as I got 2 really nice ears and a small third from almost every stalk.I wish I had access to more to play with. I always assumed the wood ash caused that third ear because I'v never seen that since.Just my one experience with Oak ashes.

12/30/2015 9:06:07 AM

Ontario

I use hardwood ashes in my compost piles but only 3 or 4 five gallon buckets full

12/30/2015 9:12:13 AM

Muddy Waters

I used to burn the weeds on my patch every fall.then till in the ashes. Butt the local ordinances wont allow it anymore.If I break out the torch the fire department shows up.LOL true story.About 6 trucks showed up. Bubba cant burn em anymore.

12/30/2015 10:40:23 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Just be careful using to much. Wood ashes will raise your Ph.

12/30/2015 10:46:00 AM

Ely Mn

I throw about 15 gallons in my greenhouse over the winter on top of the snow.
I swear by it!

12/30/2015 12:00:14 PM

Upa Creek, MO

What's your sq footage, Dan?

My pH tends to go down each year, and I always have plenty of wood ash.

12/30/2015 12:12:38 PM

Ely Mn

300 sq

12/30/2015 1:22:45 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I may go back to using more ashes. I have finally gotten my ph down to 7, and the county is using a stabilization product on the road that does a good job of holding down the dust. Since my fireplace isn't very efficient, I end up with a fair amount of charred wood (biochar) that should add a little organic matter that won't break down too fast. But the driveway gets it first.

12/30/2015 3:12:43 PM

Cheshire Ma USA

Use them every year, how ever much I get from 8 cords of wood on 3500 sf.

12/30/2015 5:49:49 PM

BC, Canada

All the time and for years. We burn about 4 to 5 cords a year and it all goes to one of the many compost piles or occasionally in to a garden trench. We have low pH so raising it isn't an issue.
Picking out the nails used to be ab issue; now I have a great big magnet, only takes a minute.
Don't ever burn pressure treated wood. Very very toxic.

12/30/2015 6:41:01 PM

East Jordan, MI

I add wood ashes every year, the general rule is it takes twice as much wood ash in pounds as lime for the same affect to pH and CA. Wood ashes also react much faster than lime because they are water soluble.

Here is an article I put together for our club a few years back.

http://sgpgrowers.wix.com/homepage#!using-wood-ashes-as-an-ammendment/c1u5z

12/31/2015 3:40:57 PM