The Perfect Addition To Your Backyard – Ash in The Wild (2024)

FAQs

What does Ash add to a garden? ›

Wood ash is a good source potassium (K) ~5%, calcium (Ca) ~25%, phosphorous (P) ~2%, and magnesium (Mg) ~1% which are essential plant nutrients. Crops have been shown to positively respond to K and P from wood ash. Other micro-nutrients in wood ash include boron, copper, molybdenum, sulfur and zinc.

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.

Ash from wood fires, such as bonfires or wood-burning stoves, can be a useful additive to the compost heap or can be applied directly to bare ground and dug in. It can be a natural source of potassium and trace elements. It also has a liming effect, so can help to remedy excessively acidic soils.

Wood ash is useful for hungry plants like onions, garlic and others in the allium family. Some root vegetables also appreciate the potash they get from wood ash, so it's great for carrots, turnips and radishes. Other vegetables where the nutrients in wood ash can be a boost include peas, asparagus, and leafy greens.

Wood ash contains calcium, magnesium, potassium and other important nutrients. But always test the soil before spreading ashes.

If the fireplace ashes in your compost are made primarily from hardwoods, like oak and maple, the nutrients and minerals in your wood ash will be much higher. If the fireplace ashes in your compost are made mostly by burning softwoods like pine or firs, there will be fewer nutrients and minerals in the ash.

Use wood ashes to grow great tomatoes — peppers too

Ashes can be an excellent resource for gardeners by helping recharge soil with minerals and numerous trace nutrients. At the top of the list is calcium, which is absolutely essential as an easily absorbed form that tomato and pepper plants require.

Improper ash disposal has become a common cause of many forest fires. Wood ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days. Forestry officials caution homeowners about this serious threat to the safety of their families and homes.

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.

Are coffee grounds good for the garden? ›

Are coffee grounds good for plants? Coffee grounds are an excellent compost ingredient and are fine to apply directly onto the soil around most garden plants if used with care and moderation. Coffee grounds contain nutrients that plants use for growth.

Ash particles in the smoke are also detrimental to plant growth by clogging the stomatal pores, with those pores located on the upper surfaces of leaves more greatly affected than those on the lower-facing leaf surface.

Acidic-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and roses will benefit from a sprinkling of coffee grounds around the base of plants. Vegetable crops that may benefit from coffee grounds include carrots, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and radishes.

The benefits of wood ash for lawns and vegetable gardens

It also promotes good drainage and prevent the appearance of moss. In the vegetable garden vegetables and fruit such as tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and beans, particularly appreciate this nutrient boost.

Wood ashes, granite dust or Azomite (a manufactured rock powder), can be scratched into the soil around the peppers in midsummer to stimulate more fruit production. Don't be too generous with the water. It's best to keep the soil on the dry side. Peppers are congenial.

Although they do not directly stimulate grass growth, ashes enrich the soil and boost its microbial activity. It also promotes good drainage and prevent the appearance of moss. In the vegetable garden vegetables and fruit such as tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and beans, particularly appreciate this nutrient boost.

Ashes can be an excellent resource for gardeners by helping recharge soil with minerals and numerous trace nutrients. At the top of the list is calcium, which is absolutely essential as an easily absorbed form that tomato and pepper plants require.