Find out if wood ash is good for the garden and how to use it effectively to fertilize plants.
While the ash from wildfires can help nourish new growth, is wood ash good for the garden?
Yes, the ashes from your wood-burning fireplace can helpimprove your garden soil.
Credit:Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images
The following expert tips will help you use wood ash in the garden safely and effectively.
Chelsea McKinleyis a plant health specialist at theU.S.
Botanic Gardenin Washington, D.C. She holds a B.S.
in Environmental Horticulture Science.
Most plants prefer a soil pH of around 6.5.
Think of wood ash as analternative to lime, McKinley says.
Fertilize Vegetable Gardens
Wood ash contains 25% to 50% calcium, McKinley says.
Test your soilbefore using wood ash or any othersoil amendments.
you gotta know your current soil conditions to know what it needs to nourish and support plants.
McKinley says there are better fertilizers that will deliver more nutrients without changing soil pH.
If your soil pH is good, Id look into other fertilizers, she says.
Dont use wood ash around acid-loving plants.
It needs to be diluted with soil, McKinley says.
Rake it into the soil thoroughly before planting seeds or transplants.
Put Wood Ash in Your Compost Pile
Use small amounts of wood ash in acompost pileto reduce the acidity.
Higher pH improves conditions for composting worms and produces alkaline compost that makesgreat mulch for vegetable gardens.
Dont use ash from coal, charcoal briquettes, or treated timber on food crops.
The ash may contain substances that are toxic to people.
Its also more desirable than sending it to a landfill.
And that way, your winter fires can be transformed into summer tomatoes.
