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On Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:18:30 -0000, "Wally"
wrote:

Since getting a wood burner I have accumulated a
large pile of ashes (most wood but some coal).
What is the best way of using them on my allotment ?
Should I just throw on the ground and dig in or maybe
put on the compost heap ??

Any other ideas would be welcome.

Wally


You need to make sure that they are not too concentrated, and
preferably weathered. Either spread them thinly around when you are
digging, or mix them up in the compost heap.
If you have slug problems, putting a ring of ashes around the affected
plants will often deter them.

Fruit likes wood ash, but not weathered for too long, or the potassium
salts leach out. A small proportion of coal ash doesn't (IME) do any
harm.

However, on heavy soil, ash - wood ash especially - does not help in
breaking-up the clay, nor reduce the stickiness.

Also, ash from logs doesn't contain a lot of potash - you need bonfire
ash from green wood for higher levels.

--
Rusty
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