On Sat, 04 Oct 2003 03:47:03 GMT, "Jay Casey"
wrote:

Is it a bad idea to dump charcoal ash (completely burnt out cold) in the
flower bed or on the grass? Or is it actually beneficial to flowers or
grass?


I would not do so around Travis Co. Our soil is alkaline, our water
is alkline, and our climate burns organic matter out of even the best
"made" soils in a few seasons. Your ash is also (highly) alkaline.
It does not help an already bad situation. You might try mixing it in
your compost heap. (I use lump charcoal and recycle the ash through my
leaf heap) The minerals are presumably useful, but the pH is all
wrong for direct application in our (Central Texas) environment.
Maybe in the piney woods of E. Texas?