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Gardening

hedgehog

(36,286 posts) Mon Apr 9, 2012, 09:45 AM Apr 2012

Wood ashes? My husband gave me a 5 gallon bucket of ashes

from where he burns downed limbs and such. Would these be good to add to the garden? Is there a particular group of plants that would like these?

4 replies

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Wood ashes? My husband gave me a 5 gallon bucket of ashes (Original Post) hedgehog Apr 2012 OP

An emphatic NO! They will NOT be good for your soil! lastlib Apr 2012 #1

When life gives you ashes, make soap. ret5hd Apr 2012 #2

I toss them back in the woods where I cut the trees from. nt postulater Apr 2012 #3

I use it very lightly, for liming Viva_La_Revolution Apr 2012 #4

lastlib

(24,848 posts)

1. An emphatic NO! They will NOT be good for your soil!

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Mon Apr 9, 2012, 10:12 AM

Apr 2012

The pH factor of wood ash will increase the alkalinity of your soil significantly. Wood ash has no nutrients; everything good for plantlife has been burned out. If you have a patch of weeds, you can dump the ash on it and kill them, but you won't get anything else to grow there. Best suggestion: dump 'em down a sewer drain. Or if you have a neighbor who's giving you trouble, scatter 'em on HIS garden!