Using Wood Ash in Your Vegetable Garden
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- Опубліковано 30 лис 2018
- 💛 📖 See the GrowVeg book here: www.growveg.com/growveg-the-b....
Bonfires, wood burners and open fireplaces produce lots of ash over the course of winter. Don’t throw it away! It’s a valuable source of nutrients for the garden.
Wood ash is particularly useful for fruiting plants, but it’s important to know where not to use it too.
In this short video we’ll show you when, where and how much wood ash to apply to keep your plants in tiptop condition.
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We used wood Ash around rubbarb, the results are phenomenal with rubbarb especially
thanks Ben you angel!
I started using the wood ash from my oak bbq in my vineyard for the micronutrients and the potassium as well as the fact that my soil is sand with a acidic ph of around 5.8
If you keep chickens, then wood ash sprinkled into the chicken house deodorises the droppings and by a complicated chemical reaction makes a perfectly balanced NPK fertiliser.
Wow - that's really handy to know. Thanks for sharing.
Exactly and I'd like to add that is also good for chicken lice. I let them "bath" in the wood ash to suffocate the lice off of them.
its probably the wood ash mixed with the chicken urine.
Thanks for sharing this. Much appreciated!
I do the same thing.
Dan, you never fail me. Whenever I have a garden question, you have a video to answer it. Thank you.
We startedza firepit yesterday to burn our garden waste that is far too huge to compost. I'll be using the charcoal and ash in the market garden
That's really great to hear. :-)
I just cut down a tree and am burning it piece by piece and I heard about this. Thanks for the advice
Exactly the info I needed delivered in very pleasant and understandable manner. Thank you!
Thank you very much for this great video. The info is just what I was looking for.
Great video. Very helpful with general guidelines for using wood ash.
Reminds me of here in central Florida where we do designated burns in the forest.
After the burn everything comes back so green and lush ! Thanks for sharing !
I live there to...tough to garden here
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about wood ash
I've sprinkled wood ash on leaves of plants which have been riddled with flea beetle damage. It is an effective repellent.
Interesting I'll have to try that out
Just the info I was looking for, thank you for a succinct and short example for its use.
Glad it was of use Christine. Happy gardening!
I also use wood ash leftover from our firepit. I've noticed an abundance of growth since using it
Informative without verbosity. Many thanks. TimW
I use wood ash on my aspargus bed, in my tomato pots and around my fruit busches as black and red currants. Thanks for sharing.
I pour a deep layer of wood ash in spots where I want to inhibit weed growth (and don't mix it in), such as alongside structural walls or rock walls. It's effective for years if it's deep enough, so I was worried about how much to use in the garden without killing my plants, so thanks for these tips.
Buddy girl!!!!!! I do the same things it’s amazing to stop weeds !!!
JEN I have used wood ash on rhubarb plants for decades by sprinting it during fall and winter months.
I have a burn ever winter - check out the channel just had one.
burning old cames, dried weeds, and any old non-treated wood. nothing leaves my plot, why waste what could be good ash.
Another good reason to have a fire yourself is you really clear out the weeds, weed seeds and slug eggs where the fire was and next spring the fire area is good to plant. :D win-win!
Useful video
Good information
Fantastic for root veggies!
Why is it safe for root veggies and not for potatoes? What's the difference here?
@@buckswild5331 Wood ash is too alkaline for potatoes that need more acidic soil like pH 5.5
Other root veggies however thrive in wood ash as they need a lot of phosphorus (aka root) which wood ash has a lot. For example beets can grow in a 6 - 7 ph so wood ash is ok!
This was a very timely post for me. Last season, after having no luck whatsoever in a bed that had produced extremely well in prior years, I tested the soil and found that it was extremely acidic (4.0pH). I had not known that compost, over time, has a tendency to acidify a bed. So, I'll be adding some ash before planting this year and then testing again just to insure a better outcome this year.
That doesnt seem right. Compost is supposed to be only slightly acidic and a ph of 4 sounds possibly corrosive.
my native soil is close to that 5.2-5.8 which is moderately to heavily acidic @@jeil5676
We've been using wood ash in the same areas for years and when we finally did a pH test, it was around 8 - far too high. Wood ash should only be used if you know your soil pH is too low OR combine it with sulfur power to balance the pH shift
Maybe balance it out with manure?
Thank you for this useful information. I have heard wood ash can be beneficial but did not know the specifics of how to use it. I like the idea of putting it in my compost piles . My soil is on the acid side testing pH 5.5 to 6.0 .
Hopefully wood ash will be really handy in helping you to raise the pH a little. Glad you've found the video helpful.
Last summer the count hired somebody to cut and burn trees along the chicago river near my garden. The tomatoes growing in straight wood ash are 3 times the size of my transplants.I've got some melons growing in the compost pile.I think I will try side dressing them with wood ash.
Good idea on that one Mike.
Thanks for sharing the metric conversions for those of us outside the US. Pounds and ounces mean nothing to me.
Thank you for all the beneficial info. I have learned a great deal about gardening from your channel. I would like to ask a question, if I may; I am wondering if I can use wood ash for a cucumber, tomato and herb such as mints, rosemary , Basil , oregano, and tregan garden. and also for pomegranate trees. The would ashes that I have is from the burned pin tree, I appreciate a reply
Thank you
Yes, you could use that ash. 😀 It would be especially good for use with the cucumber and tomatoes and pomegranate.
I put a healthy dose around the hydrangeas and it turns them from blue to pink. Some year I want to remember to put it under half of it and see if it comes out half and half.
That would be a really interesting experiment. Let us know how you get on if you decide to try it.
I produce 3 garbage can full of ashes every winter. Many years ago not knowing what to do with it I dumped it a ravine where i put branches logs and other vegetation. Just a filling area. Most of the ash was thrown around a very old - end of life yellow birch. After a year the tree perked-up and added 8 years to it’s life. I have a 2 acre wood lot that I maintain. I will use the ash liberally from now on the nourish the tree’s I want to maintain. I am not into tomatoes, pruning and such, but more in cutting down older trees to let the young ones strive. No spades, trowels in my case: chainsaws, pulleys, block and tacle and portable sawmill. I have some 4 x 8 beams that are 24’ long. I live in Canada. I am now retired and will soon follow my father’s footsteps (he was British) and grow the most important fruit of them all: the tomato. Cheers
Thanx💚🙏🏾
Important lesson learned that pertain to the end of this video, in that wood ash should NEVER be stored in a plastic
bin. I once put ash (that had been out of the wood stove for 3 weeks) into a plastic bin, but the ash reacted with the the plastic and reignited, catching the plastic bin on fire, which in turn caught my garage on fire! ALWAYS store ash in a metal bin only.
That would be the safest option Adam. The ash I collected was completely cold and several days old, hence the plastic tub. But you're right - metal is safest.
Also never put hot ash onto plants because the heat can injure them.
Someone somewhere said wood ash should not go on fruit but you say it is ok on tomatoes so great! Also on raspberries and blackcurrants. What about strawberries and aubergines Ben? Thanks in advance as I know you always answer!
I think it's fine on those also. But apply in modest amounts - not great clumps.
I have used it to combat a gluish dripping from oak and willow trees. I don't know if it kills the ants but no problems with that mess anymore. And the trees keep on flourishing. From Chile.
Great tip, thanks for sharing. :-)
Oh that’s nice! Ash on my tomatoes!!!
Just around them, at the base of the plants. Definitely not on the fruits!
How is it around garlic? Thanks for this, your videos are very helpful!
I've not used it around garlic, but in small quantities I would think it would be fine to use. But if in doubt, add it to your compost heap to blend in with all the other ingredients.
@@GrowVeg thank you~
Great advice I will start saving my wood ash. I am a woodturner and have lots of shavings and wood dust from my extractor. could this be used in container gardening. I have different types of wood shavings can they all be used.
If the wood is untreated, you could use it. The shavings themselves could be composted along with plenty of green material to make a really top-notch compost. You could potentially use it as a mulch around fruit bushes and so on too.
Anh trồng cây măng tây nữa cho vườn thêm rau ăn
Great information, thank you.
I have a followup question for anybody who would happen to know, why is it not a good idea to use charcoal ash?
Charcoal ash should be fine - from charcoal that hasn't had any lighter fluids or similar sprayed onto it before lighting.
Charcoal soaks up nutrients. If you soak the charcoal in a nutrient solution for a couple weeks, it will add the nutrients to your soil. If you don't load it up before putting it in your soil, it will rob your plants, for a year or two.
I cut down and burned some long leaf pine trees in central Florida and have been using a small amount of the ashes quarterly on my fruit trees. The trees seem to be doing very well. Is it a good idea to use the ashes in this manner?
Yes, ashes are good as a top-dressing on most fruit trees and bushes, when used in modest quantities.
We have frequent camp fires in our back yard in the summer...but what is left afterward looks more like charcoal. We never have that nice soft, light coloured stuff I see in the video. Most of what we burn is bits of wood from our property and leftover pieces of pine lumber...is it because we don't let burn for more than a couple of hours before we put it out? And is there anything I can do with black charcoal bits?
Yes, you would see lumps of charcoal because it hasn't completely burned all the way through. Assuming the wood and lumber hasn't been treated with chemicals, you could still use the crunchy bits of black charcoal. Crush it up as best you can and then sprinkle onto or dig into the soil in the same way as wood ash. If they are very big bits, then don't put them where you want to sow, as they'll get in the way. Use these bits around fruit trees and bushes instead.
@@GrowVeg The Black pieces are wonderful as they are. Check out Bio Char.
I'm going to try to surround the anthill with the ashes that I have yet to get out of the chimney. I will see if the ants decide to move that I have some queen tacos (Tropaeolum majus) to plant. Then I will tell if it works for me!
So if I'm growing eggplant and peppers, probably best not to then? Because they like acidic soil?
If I'm going to put ash down, since it's good for the actual fruit, should I wait until the plants are a little bigger and have some leaves going, before I put the ash down?
You would need to add a lot of wood ash to significantly change the pH of the soil. That said, if your soil is only just acidic you will want to use wood ash sparingly around peppers and eggplants. I would mix this into the soil or planting hole at planting time.
Thanks for this. I've just burned a huge quantity of old dry brambles on the allotment,
and got lots of ash. I wonder if anyone knows if this is going to be okay to use as
recommended in the video. I know in small amounts it will deter slugs, but on the
other hand if it shouldn't be used round seedlings, how about young plants. Thanks
to anyone that has any answers.
I think you'd be alright to just spread it out over a wider area of ground and then tickled it into the soil. If you do this a few weeks before planting then you'd be fine to plant straight into the soil after that.
@@GrowVeg Thank you for the reply. x
if i have a bonfire i get the shovel out once its cooled down and extricate, dry and use it for the purposes listed above. do you deliberately avoid using coal in the open fire (or did you go to someone elses open fire for the footage?) i have an old wood fired rayburn stove at my parents place which is still used for home heating, but we need to use coal to get the fire going and supplement with firewood, sadly due to the coal i cant use the ash, which is a pity as i have loads and loads of it! cheers
The fireplace shown was my own fire. It's small (designed for coal use originally I imagine). We had a wood burner once that produced prolific quantities of wood ash as it was very much used to heat our main living area.
I wouldn't advise using coal ash, but if you are using a very small amount of coal to get the rayburn going and then using an overwhelming amount of wood from that point on, I'd perhaps try using small amounts around fruit trees and bushes, starting small to see no harm is done to your plants.
@@GrowVeg awesome thanks mate
What do you do with it if your soil has the perfect Ph for veggies?
save it for next year or gift it to a gardening friend.
I live in Maine (USA), and I save our extra wood ash to sprinkle on icy walkways and driveways in the winter. It is very effective at providing a non-slippery surface, darkening the ice to make the sun's warmth melt the it, and keeping freezing rain from creating more ice. Just keep in mind that it can be tracked into the house, so leave your boots by the door.
You can still add a little to your soil, so long as you keep a close eye on the pH to make sure it doesn't creep up too high. The nutrients in it are very worth adding to your soil and in most cases shouldn't push up pH too high, if added moderately.
Nate Frost dude..... genius!!! Thanks 🙏
Glad I narrowly missed putting ash on my potato plants.... Is there any rule of thumb to know what plants like acidic soil, or do you just have to research each one?
It's really just a case of researching each one. The biggest acid-loving crops are blueberries, and to a lesser extent raspberries and related fruits.
@@GrowVeg Cool, cool. Could one say... sour fruits are more likely to want acid soil? or is this just a coincidence?
I wouldn't say there's any correlation there - just a coincidence.
Put your tea to the wood ash and you have a better mix. Tea has acid and puts in other things the plants need.
Blue Breeze?
Gardener Scott said tomatoes like acid soil Are they like raspberries or not. I am confused what is best for them thanks
Tomatoes like it very slightly acid to neutral (pH 6 to 7). Adding a little wood ash to feed flowering and fruiting plants shouldn't affect pH too much.
Irrigaton of water (immediately) need or not After application of ash around plants ???plz reply sir
Not immediately no, but the sooner you water, the sooner the ash will be taken into the soil to be of use to the plants.
👌
Wouldn't it be better to sprinkle wood ash after the composting is done so that the alkalinity won't kill microbes?
Limited amounts of wood ash shouldn't disrupt the microbial life of the compost heap. This way you can add a few handfuls as you build up the compost heap, to get a more even distribution.
Can I put it in my compost bin?
Yes, a little added to your compost bin - in layers with other materials - is absolutely fine.
Can we put it on lawn???
I think if you spread it very thinly - literally the finest suggestion spread thinly over the lawn - this would be fine.
You do know that you can counter the pH changing charcteristic by addin elemental sulfur.
Thanks for the tip Raul.
@@GrowVeg Glad you appreciate it. Allow me to follow up a little:
One gallon wood ash can cover a 200 Foot Square area (10 X 20)
Of that gallon over the 200 Sq Feet the calcium carbonate in it will alter the pH raising raise it about .02 pH points.
Put half a cup of sulfur in that gallon, and it’ll neutralize the alkalinity of ash (ash is between 9 and 11 pH). The bacteria will convert it to the oxoanion called sulfate and in that form the plants can use it.
So with Sulfur and ash you will have fertilized with everything they need excepting only nitrogen.
Goose breeze?
But what if your soil is pretty alkaline already, and you're trying to keep it as acidic as possible with compost and manure?
Then I would add the wood ash to your compost heap only, rather than directly onto the ground. See below for more comments about this aspect of using wood ash.
I use pallets in my wood burner, is that type of ash ok?
If the pallets haven't been treated with toxic preservatives (most aren't these days) and you remove any bits of metalware - staples etc - then yes, this type of ash would be okay.
GrowVeg ok sweet, thanks for getting back to me fast.
Hendaklah abu itu dibiarkan beberapa hari agar lebih dingin
Will ash from burning fall leaves help in the same way?
Yes, they will still contain lots of nutrients, so worth adding. You might, however, get more benefit from making leaf mold with your fall leaves. Here's our video on that: ua-cam.com/video/8gfpOo6QbQQ/v-deo.html
How about ash from presto logs?
Yes, you should be able to use these too - most of these logs are formed under pressure, with nothing artificial added. However, some may have traces of paraffin and should not be used - so check the individual brand for details.
@@GrowVeg I wouldn't worry too much about paraffin... it will burn off. Its just there to hold the chips together plus make them easy to light. We use paraffin dipped pine cones for fire starters.
👍🔥 👍
Is smokeless coal ash any good?
No, sorry. Only ash derived from wood is suitable.
GrowVeg thank you
Great info, but I'd like to add something if I may: Wood ash is terrific, but coal ash and even ash from charcoal briquettes which contain coal dust should be avoided at all cost! This is the same coal ash that power plants produce, and it's just as bad. It contains assorted nasties such as sulfur, arsenic, heavy metals and a ton of carcinogens. It will make your garden grow beautifully, but you won't want to eat anything out of it!
Very true, thanks for sharing that - stick with the wood ash for sure.
I read alot about it. But They Said to much Heavy metal
Have you ever heard of wood ash tea? Is it useful in the garden?
I haven't heard of that. I can't see any benefit of using a tea over just sprinkling on the ashes directly.
This is not true for Arizona, as our soil is alkaline and needs to have acid nutrients to bring it back to neutral.
Where in Arizona. I'm live in Prescott.
Lori, I live in SW Florida where the soil is alkaline as well but I have found that if you use enough compost the life in the soil will bring the PH into balance. I was told not to use wood ash because of the nature of our soils here but I started using it experimentally years ago and found great success. I sheet mulch my gardens with wood chips which tends to help the equation as well. Never let others tell you what you can or can't do. Always experiment.
Thanks for sharing your experiences on this, that's a great help. Good to know it works so well in combination with compost.
great for cannabis plants the skunk rules
So ... always cover your ash? lol!!!