Ash can be one of the pitfalls of having a working fireplace or wood burning stove within your home, but can they be good for plants or grass?
Two much or too little ash can cause permanent damage to the stove or fireplace, and it can become difficult to clean up.
However, could there be a way to make the most out of your leftover ash? The short answer is yes!
Did you know that wood ash can serve a positive purpose in your garden? Fireplace or stove ash can be beneficial to your garden and offers a practical way to get rid of the ash compared to sweeping it up and dumping it in the garbage can.
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Are Fireplace Ashes Good for Plants or Grass?
So ashes can be a good thing, but what are the benefits of using ash in your garden? We’ve listed out some of the most common below:
A natural fertilizer:
You can use ash as a natural fertilizer, and to effectively do this you should use around 10-15 pounds per 1000 square foot of soil. As you can see, you don’t need a huge amount but essential nutrients can be found in ashes that plants need to thrive.
Slug and snail repellent:
Ashes can help soak up wet surfaces which makes it a lot more difficult for slugs and snails to move around. This acts as a natural slug and snail repellent because they’re more likely to avoid areas where they find it difficult to move around. Good for you, good for your flowers and good for any family members who don’t like slimy visitors!
Substitute for agricultural lime:
Garden limes are used to raise the soils PH level and allows nutrients to be taken up. Ashes can be used as a substitute for this which will save you a couple bucks.
Can be added to compost:
A small portion of ashes can help maintain the neutral condition of a compost pile. It can also repel wildlife that would usually consume the compost as a snack. This means you can grow your natural compost pile as high as you want!
An ant repellent:
Ash can act as an ant repellent if you put a thick layer over the opening to ant hills and near any cracks they use to get into the house. They will get tired of having to keep digging and go somewhere easier to get in.
Essential Nutrients within Ash:
As we’ve hinted at, ash contains some vital nutrients loved by plants, flowers and lawns in general. When you think about it, this is common sense as the ash is essentially natural waste material, similar to when a tree or plant dies and decomposes naturally within a first. It’s part of the natural circle of life and these nutrients include:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
Is ash good for grass and plants?
Ash contains around 13 essential nutrients that soil has for optimum plant growth, which means it is great for grass and plants. Dan Sullivan (Expert OSU Extension soil scientist) explains that the 13 nutrients can boost plant growth and can improve overall plant health. According to Sullivan, hardwoods can produce about five times the nutrients per cord and about three times the ash compared to softwoods.
Most soils and fertilizer mixes can lack calcium, but wood ash can contain about 15% calcium. Having proper levels of calcium in the soils and in the grass can make plants stronger, which in turn help the plant to become more disease and pest resistant. However, it should be used carefully since calcium can make soil alkaline with a pH range of 9 to 13.
Wood ash can be beneficial to most garden plants because it makes soil slightly acidic and low in potassium. But its important to note that you shouldn’t use ash if your soil pH is alkaline or more than 7.0. Do not use wood ash in plants that thrive in acidic soils.
When using wood ash on your lawn, always conduct a soil test because it can significantly change the pH of your soil. All soil tests will report the pH or the measure of your soil’s acidity or alkalinity. Many plants prefer to grow in slightly acidic soil at 6.5, however some plants require a highly acidic soil at 4 to 5.5 ranges. A reading lower than 7 is an acidic reading while higher than 7 means that the material is alkaline or basic.
This might sound overly technical, but it’s important to remember if you’re particularly house-proud, but also an inexperienced gardener.
When is the best time to use wood ash on grass?
The best time to use wood ash on grass is in the fall. It is important that you save up this years ashes if you plan on using them in the fall. You should wait until new plants are a few weeks old before you apply any wood ash.
Which plants is ash good for?
- Chives
- Arugula
- Artichokes
- Cauliflower
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Collards
- Roses
- Lavender
- Hydrangeas
- Peonies
Which plants is ash bad for?
- Carrots
- Onions
- Strawberries
- Peppers
- Blueberries
- Potatoes
- Azaleas
- Marigolds
- Nasturtiums
- Rhododendrons
Now that you have all the information you need, its time to start saving up your ash ready for some fall gardening.
Ash may have been one of yours and many peoples least favourite part of their open fires or wood burning stoves, but now you have all the information you need to make use of it and make your garden even more beautiful. Just remember to be wary of soil/lawn pH levels before any large-scale application.
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We hope this helps, and for everything else home heating stick with CosyWarmer.com