Can I use wood ashes in my compost pile?
I have a wood burning fireplace, which I use every nite. As a result, I have a lot of ashes. Can I add them to my compost pile?? Regards-Bob.
I don't know the right answer but I did it to mine for years. I know it is good to mix with dirt and I never saw it do any harm to my compost… I don't think I would do alot… maybe at most a 30/70% as that is the most I ever had… probably more like a 20/80%.
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5 Responses to “Can I use wood ashes in my compost pile?”
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I don't know the right answer but I did it to mine for years. I know it is good to mix with dirt and I never saw it do any harm to my compost… I don't think I would do alot… maybe at most a 30/70% as that is the most I ever had… probably more like a 20/80%.
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yea u can. its supposed to b good fertiliser too
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Yes!
Calcium is the most abundant element in wood ash and gives the ash properties that are similar to agricultural lime. Ash is also a good source of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and aluminum. In terms of commercial fertilizer, average wood ash would probably be about 0-1-3 (N-P-K). In addition to these macronutrients, wood ash is also a good source of many micronutrients that are needed in trace amounts for adequate plant growth. Wood ash contains few elements that pose environmental problems. Heavy metal concentrations are typically low and not in a highly extractable or available form.
http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~blpprt/bestwoodash.html
Generally, wood ash contains less than 10 percent potash, 1 percent phosphate and trace amounts of micro-nutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc. Trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, nickel and chromium also may be present. Wood ash does not contain nitrogen.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/woodash.html
Potassium, calcium and magnesium carbonate or oxide are present in comparatively large amounts giving the ashes a strongly alkaline reaction which can neutralize acid soils. However in soils that are already alkaline, high application rates can be harmful. A further compounding problem is that about 80 to 90 percent of the minerals in wood ashes are water-soluble, so that high application rates can cause salts to build up in soils, resulting in plant injury.
As a plant food, ashes contain 5 to 7 percent potassium and 11/2 to 2 percent phosphorous. They also have 25 to 50 percent calcium compounds. Hardwood (e.g. oak) ashes contain more potassium than those from softwoods (e.g. pine). If left out in the rain, because these nutrients are water-soluble, the ashes will lose their nutritive value. The less soluble carbonates which cause alkalinity will remain longer.
http://ceventura.ucdavis.edu/ben/pubs/nutrition/ashes.htm
In compost piles, wood ash can be used to help maintain a neutral condition, the best environment to help microorganisms break down organic materials. Sprinkle ash on each layer of compost as the pile is built up. Ash also adds nutrients to compost.
Don't breath in ash & do not add ash with nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate (21-0-0-24S), urea (46-0-0) or ammonium nitrate (34-0-0). These fertilizers produce ammonia gas when placed in contact with high pH materials such as wood ash. on alkaline soils or on acid-loving plants.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=34&storyType=garden
Here's a site on how to make compost:
http://www.kolias.com/homegarden/compost.htm
Good luck! Hope this is helpful.
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Wood ash does contain potash, one of the big three nutrients as well as many other micro nutrients. It will increase the alkalinity of your soils, however. If your soil tends to be alkaline to begin with, you will be doing more harm than good, so soil testing is imperative. You can get pH testing kits practically anywhere to check this.
Of course, you should avoid using the ashes if you have burned a lot of cardboard, painted wood, treated wood or trash. These are things that you probably wouldn't be burning in a fireplace, but avoid using the ashed from these fires just in case you do.
The nutrients that are available in wood ashes tend to be readily available and are easily weathered out, so this is another consideration when adding them to your compost system.
Visit our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/
Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
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What I would do would be to make sure it is all powdery and spread it about on the lawn, keeping it away from your shrubery.
Many bushes like acid soil and putting wood ash, which has lie in it, would turn the soil basic and kill the plants.
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