"dyogi" wrote in message
...

I've heard master gardeners discourage the use of ashes in composting
and gardening. At the same time, I ran a wood furnace for years, and
added all the ashes to my compost pile. When the proportion of ash to
grass clippings and leaves is very low, you shouldn't have a problem.
If ash comes up as a noticeable percentage of the composted material,
consider using it on icy sidewalks rather than in your compost.

Or spread them over your lawn in a thin layer. Ash is minerals and too
valuable to send to the dump. We don't have tons of ash, just from our
fireplace and outdoor fire-bin when we burn anything that may be diseased.