Is ashes good for soil

Using Wood Ash in the Home Garden – Wisconsin Horticulture

Authors: Kevin Schoessow, Extension Burnett, Sawyer and Washburn Counties
Last Revised: 02/27/2020
X-number: XHT1268

Home gardeners often ask if wood ash can be used as a fertilizer in vegetable gardens and flowerbeds, around landscape trees and shrubs, and on lawns. Wood ash can be a valuable source of certain nutrients and can also be used to modify soil pH. However, it needs to come from an appropriate source and its use should be based on recommendations from soil fertility testing provided by a professional lab such as the UW Soil and Forage Lab (https://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/).

Using wood ash in home gardens can increase soil fertility and raise soil pH.

What are the potential benefits of using wood ash? Wood ash contains nutrients that can be beneficial for plant growth. Calcium is the plant nutrient most commonly found in wood ash and may comprise 20% or more of its content. Potassium (also called potash) is another common component of wood ash, occurring at concentrations of up to 5%. Magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur are also typically found in wood ash at concentrations of up to 2%. Finally, wood ash can contain trace amounts of iron, aluminum, manganese, zinc, boron and other nutrients needed by plants.

In addition to its nutrient content, wood ash can help in neutralizing soil acidity. When wood is burned, high amounts of carbonates are produced. Carbonates react with and neutralize acid in the soil, causing the soil pH to increase. The levels of carbonates present in wood ash (and thus its acid-neutralizing properties) will vary depending on the type of wood burned and how the wood was burned. In general, wood ash has about 50% less acid-neutralizing capacity than commercially available acid neutralizers such as pelletized lime or aglime. Approximately four cups of wood ash can be substituted for one pound of aglime.

What are potential downsides of using wood ash? On occasion, even the best wood ash may contain heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, but the levels of these metals can be minimized by carefully selecting the wood that is burned to produce the ash (see below for details). In addition, the increase in soil pH associated with using wood ash tends to decrease the likelihood of plants taking up heavy metals. If wood ash is used at recommended rates, concentrations of heavy metals should be low enough not to pose a threat to plants, or to animals or humans who eat plants grown in treated areas. If you are concerned about heavy metals in your wood ash, consider testing for these elements prior to use. The UW Soil and Forage Lab (mentioned above) does not test for heavy metals at this time; however staff can help answer questions about heavy metal contaminants.

Because using wood ash tends to increase soil pH, applying it where acid-loving plants (e.g., blueberries, azaleas/rhododendrons, birch trees, red maples, pin oaks) are growing will likely not be beneficial. Using wood ash may actually be detrimental and contribute to problems with chlorosis [see University of Wisconsin Gardens Facts XHT1002 (Chlorosis)]. In addition, many vegetables and other landscape plants prefer slightly acidic soils, so wood ash should be used judiciously when growing these plants. Finally, in some cases, increased pH due to use of wood ash may promote certain diseases. As an example, potatoes grown at higher pH tend to be more prone to potato scab [see University of Wisconsin Gardens Facts XHT1117 (Potato Scab)].

In order to use wood ash in the best manner possible, always make applications to garden soils based on the plants that are to be grown and based on recommendations from a certified soil testing lab.

What type of wood ash should I use? If you decide that using wood ash is appropriate for your gardening needs, only use wood ash that has come from trees grown in natural areas. DO NOT use wood ash produced from trees grown near industrial sites, in soils that may be contaminated with toxins or heavy metals, or if you have no knowledge of the origin of the wood that you are burning. Also, DO NOT use ash produced by burning treated wood, waste oil, plastics or garbage.

How do I apply wood ash? Prior to use, sift wood ash to remove large charcoal pieces, as well as any active embers. Apply only the amount of wood ash recommended based on a soil fertility test and based on the nutrient needs of the plants that you intend to grow in the treated area. Applying excessive amounts can lead to nutrient toxicity and/or nutrient deficiency issues in plants. Applications of wood ash are generally limited to a maximum of 15 to 20 pounds (approximately a five gallon pail) per 1000 sq. ft., per year. Spread wood ash evenly over the area to be treated (e.g., vegetable garden bed, established perennial flowerbed, lawn or other landscape area) during the winter. Because wood ash particles are very fine and can easily be blown by the wind, avoid making applications when it is windy. Whenever possible, apply wood ash to moist soil. Where feasible (e.g., in a vegetable garden), work the ash into the soil using a rototiller, spade or rake in early spring.

Due to its alkalinity, wood ash can potentially pose a human health risk. Therefore, when working with it, be sure to wear appropriate protective clothing (e. g., long pants, long sleeve shirt, gloves, eye goggles, dust mask) to limit exposures that might lead to skin, eye or respiratory irritation.

For more information on using wood ash in the home garden, as well as soil fertility testing: Contact your county Extension agent.

Are ashes good for my soil?

Can fireplace ash be used in the garden successfully or is it harmful to the soil?

Wood ash is a fine source of soluble phosphorus and potassium, both of which are essential plant nutrients. As with all things, however, the dose makes the poison.

Sift as to remove the big chunks before applying. A scrap of hardware cloth (say, 1/4" or 1/2 " would be fine - window screening is too fine.)
Limit ash applications to 10 pounds per 100 square feet per year. NOT MORE.
Apply about 2 weeks before you plant. Don't apply during the winter, as the phosphorus and potassium - highly soluble - may wash away before there are growing plants to take it up.
If you are applying wood ash on an annual basis, be sure to check the pH of the soil. It may be that your local Master Gardener group offers this service at the county office or at a clinic.
If wood is your only heat source, you can easily generate more ash in the heating season than a typical home garden can absorb.

Too much ash can increase the soil pH to levels that interfere with plant growth. Repeated, heavy applications to the same spot (as if you used one corner of the yard as an ash dump) can effectively sterilize soil and threaten surface water quality.

Ash can be applied to lawns in much the same way that lime is used to maintain adequate pH. The larger area typical of lawns prevents most of the problems discussed here.

Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Garden Soil and Compost

Photo: Noah Sussman

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tips - Ukraine - tsn.ua

Many gardeners and gardeners use ashes as fertilizer. However, it must be remembered that this tool is not suitable for feeding all plants. TSN.ua talks about important points that you need to pay attention to if you want to bring ashes under trees, bushes or vegetables.

There are several rules for the use of ashes to feed plants and trees.

Ash as fertilizer can only be used on acidic and slightly acidic soils . But on alkaline, it will only aggravate the situation. Be sure to find out what type of soil is on the site before use. To do this, purchase a litmus stick at any gardening store.
Not all plants tolerate ash well, but only those that like acidic soils. Ash as a fertilizer is suitable for cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers. But blueberries, mountain ash, viburnum, hydrangea, honeysuckle are best fed with potassium sulfate.
Remember best time to apply ash . Experts recommend to do this in the spring of in order to additionally feed the soil. For this, such a mineral fertilizer is being prepared: ash 1 bucket per 3-4 square meters of land. After that, the soil becomes very loose.
Do not scatter ashes on seeds that have begun to germinate . Ash is sprinkled under plants and bushes so that it comes into contact with the roots. Then they grow stronger and more magnificent.
Well proven ash on aphids . To combat the pest, a decoction is prepared: sift 300 g of ash, pour water and boil for 20 minutes. Let stand, drain, add 10 liters of water and spray the affected plants.
Use houseplant ash . For top dressing, you need to prepare such a solution: 50-75 g of ash per 5 liters of water, mix well. Steep for a week, stirring occasionally. This solution is suitable for feeding all indoor plants in the house.
Such a mineral fertilizer as ash has proved to be excellent for rare feeding of plants in the garden and in the garden. To do this, take 1 glass of ash per bucket of water (10 liters). Pour only under the root of vegetables or bushes.
Ash as fertilizer is excellent for strawberries and strawberries . You need to feed immediately after flowering. Apply 10-15 g of ash per bush. It will protect strawberries and strawberries from pests and gray rot.
When planting tree and shrub seedlings, a small amount of ash should be thrown into the soil so that the plant can quickly adapt to new conditions.

Wood ash contains quite a lot of potassium (10-12%), so it is very useful for cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, strawberries, potatoes, onions, peppers, cabbage, carrots, grapes, etc. Also in its composition you can find phosphorus and calcium, micro and macro elements that plants need for growth. Also, such fertilizer as ash is distinguished by the complete absence of nitrogen and any chlorine compounds.

See also:

Yeast instead of fertilizer : how to prepare and where to use
Banana fertilizer : why you shouldn't throw away exotic fruit peel

Ashes as fertilizer - properties, rules and benefits of using

Mon, 21/11/2016 - 10:31 | Comments: 0 | Author: OLCHUKS

Fertilizers that can be prepared from natural raw materials are of great benefit. Among them is ash, or ashes, obtained from the burning of wood material. Let's see what benefits the use of ashes brings as a top dressing for plants in the garden.

Even in ancient times, people noticed that after burning old, uprooted trees in these places, the yield is higher, the plants grow and develop better. They still get ashes now, burning prunings, branches of trees, bushes. You can add tops of garden plants, dried corn stalks, sunflowers.

Contents:

Benefits of ashes, benefits of organic nutrition
Fertilization methods
Recommendations for the use of ash as fertilizer
When not to use ash top dressing

Useful properties of ashes, benefits of organic feeding

Usually the composition of the ashes cannot be the same, since different types of wood are sent to the fire. But the general formula for fertilizer was nevertheless deduced:

Calcium carbonate salts are characterized by the ability to increase the movement of nutrients through plant cells, normalizing the course of biochemical processes in them.
Calcium sulfate salts are commonly known as superphosphate, which is quite popular as a mineral fertilizer.
The absorption of macronutrients is facilitated by silicic acid salts.
Potassium orthophosphate can regulate the water balance in plants, it helps with large amounts of ammonia in fruits and leaves.
A substance such as calcium chloride leads to the activation of photosynthesis. Thanks to its action, nutrients are transported to the leaves and buds.
The building material is magnesium, its salts. There are enough of them in the ashes.

All these substances have a positive effect on the growth of garden plants, allows you to retain moisture in the leaves, stems, which is especially necessary during dry summers.

Enriching the soil with potassium, calcium, the fertilizer deoxidizes it, creating favorable conditions for worms that enrich the soil with nitrogen.

In addition to supplying vegetables and flowers with nutrients, ashes help against diseases of green spaces: cracking of carrots, blackening of tomatoes, rot of potatoes, black leg of rose bushes. You can use wood ash for indoor flowers. The use of ashes as plant food has been known for a long time and benefits both plants and the earth.

Fertilizer application methods

Ashes are used as organic fertilizer in three ways:

Scattering dry ash around fruit trees, in cucumber holes, between rows of onions, you can provide the plants with the missing nutrients. This method of top dressing is carried out necessarily with mixing the ash with the soil. Usually, from one hundred to three hundred grams of ash is applied per square meter of the garden, which corresponds to half a liter. The procedure is carried out in the spring, when peat and sandy soil is enriched, and in the fall they are brought into loam. After the dry ashes have been scattered around the plants, the area is watered abundantly. Especially happy are the dry ashes of the beds with onions, as the ashes will save the vegetable from pests.
An organic fertilizer liquid solution is prepared from one glass of ashes mixed with ten liters of water. Cucumber plantings are watered with this liquid, but you can’t overdo it here, otherwise the fruits will give off bitterness. But tomatoes, on the contrary, respond to feeding with sweetness, juiciness. Ash solution is useful for vegetable seedlings, especially cabbage. He will save young shoots from rot, strengthen them.
Many gardeners add the ashes to the compost in order to use it later in growing early crops of cucumbers and cabbages.

Recommendations for the use of ash as a fertilizer

The basic rules for applying fertilizer in the form of ash include the following: .

Before sowing grass on the lawn, dry ash is distributed over the area, followed by digging.

Under apple trees, pears apply pure fertilizer into the groove created around the trunk. They feed garden trees, shrubs once every three years, two kilograms of ash per specimen. After this, abundant watering is required.

Cabbage should be fertilized organically frequently, preferably every ten to twelve days.

Then the heads of cabbage will be whole, juicy, and the vegetable will be saved from the keel.

Several times during the summer it is necessary to fertilize the grapes with ashes. It is better to do this in the evening, spraying the ash solution on the leaves of the plant. It is made from one part of the ash and five parts of the liquid.

Spray the flowers in the rose garden in the same way. Before use, do not forget about mixing the fertilizer so that the phosphorus contained in it does not settle to the bottom.

Indoor flowers are best fed either with a dry product, a tablespoon per large pot, or with a solution of two tablespoons of ashes mixed with six liters of water. When applying fertilizer, care must be taken not to burn the root system of plants with it.

Wood ash is used against wireworm, cruciferous flea. To destroy the latter, the ashes must be mixed with tobacco dust, sprinkled with a mixture of diseased plants.

Ash can be used to feed potatoes: it helps to increase the yield, saves from pests.

During the planting of the vegetable, along with the planting material, a teaspoon of wood ash is poured into the hole. A small amount of fertilizer is needed due to the fact that the acidity of the earth can decrease, and potatoes do not like this.

Fertilizer is also indispensable for changing the composition of the soil. Only three hundred grams of fertilizer per square meter will improve the fertility of loamy and clay soils. It is able to balance the acidity and alkaline component of the earth in the area. Before applying fertilizer in the form of ashes, you need to know whether this can be done or not.

When not to use ash top dressing

But, like any product, ash has contraindications for use. Since this fertilizer contains a lot of potassium, calcium, with an excess of these elements in the soil, the introduction of ash will only bring harm. Plants will help to find out about this: their leaves fall off or become discolored, shoots die off on tomatoes, and grapes and apple trees are covered with excess leaf rosettes, fruit fruits begin to turn brown.

Is ashes good for soil

Using Wood Ash in the Home Garden – Wisconsin Horticulture

Are ashes good for my soil?

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