i have some wood ashes available and have
been reading up on the best ways to use them.

i'd be interested in hearing from people
who use them and experiences or cautions.

what i have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
they won't be in direct contact with
plants at all, i'm mixing them in some
shredded bark/wood and then putting
several inches of heavy soil over them.

i can put plenty more down deeper if it
would really help the soil conditions and
nutrients, but i also don't want to waste
them.

thanks!


songbird

On Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:43:35 AM UTC-6, songbird wrote:

I have some wood ashes available and have
been reading up on the best ways to use them.

I'd be interested in hearing from people
who use them and experiences or cautions.

What I have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
They won't be in direct contact with
plants at all, I'm mixing them in some
shredded bark/wood and then putting
several inches of heavy soil over them.

I can put plenty more down deeper if it
would really help the soil conditions and
nutrients, but I also don't want to waste
them.

Thanks!


songbird
==============

Google listed this site which gives some really good advice.

http://www.weekendgardener.net/blog/...fertilizer.htm

==============

On 4/27/2013 12:19 PM, Roy wrote:
On Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:43:35 AM UTC-6, songbird wrote:

I have some wood ashes available and have
been reading up on the best ways to use them.

I'd be interested in hearing from people
who use them and experiences or cautions.

What I have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
They won't be in direct contact with
plants at all, I'm mixing them in some
shredded bark/wood and then putting
several inches of heavy soil over them.

I can put plenty more down deeper if it
would really help the soil conditions and
nutrients, but I also don't want to waste
them.

Thanks!


songbird
==============

Google listed this site which gives some really good advice.

http://www.weekendgardener.net/blog/...fertilizer.htm

==============


Having acidic soil I had a 5 gallon metal bucket for them and when full
would sprinkle them on the back lawn. Never caused any harm.

In article ,
songbird wrote:
what i have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
they won't be in direct contact with
plants at all, i'm mixing them in some
shredded bark/wood and then putting
several inches of heavy soil over them.


In many cases 1/2 inch might be overdoing it, I think. I usually just
stand on the upwind side of the garden and toss ashes into the air for a
thin broadcast layer (often on top of the snow in heating season - as
opposed to storing the ashes...) and that will get mixed in in spring.
In the orchard they are just spread around the trees and left on top of
the soil to gradually soak in.

They can actually be useful right on the surface of the soil - just give
a small buffer zone to plants, or use paper collars if you can stand
that or need to for cutworms anyway. They can be offputting to some
sorts of pesty bugs (not remembering exactly which at the moment.)

They are alkali (like lime) and therefore should not be put on or mixed
with things intended for application to an acid bed, such as
blueberries. It's also one reason not to overdo them. Presumably folks
with alkaline soils might want to avoid them, I don't really know, our
soils are generally acidic without treatment and do better for most
plants with some lime or ashes added.

They are a good source of potassium (the alkaline factor is primarily
KOH, IIRC) and trace minerals. If they happen to have some charcoal, all
to the good.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by
Please don't feed the trolls. Killfile and ignore them so they will go away.

"Roy" wrote in message
...
On Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:43:35 AM UTC-6, songbird wrote:

I have some wood ashes available and have
been reading up on the best ways to use them.

I'd be interested in hearing from people
who use them and experiences or cautions.

What I have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

I'd say that is WAY too thick an application. I use wood ashes like I would
icing sugar on a cake - it's a light dusting over the surface not a thick
layer. I think 'icing sugar' is called soemthing llike 'confectioner's
sugar int he US, if that is any help.

Roy wrote:
....
Google listed this site which gives some really good advice.

http://www.weekendgardener.net/blog/...fertilizer.htm

thanks *wanders off and looks at it*.

ok, i've read that. hmm, not really quite
what i'm after, but the cautions are those i'm
already familiar with.


songbird

Frank wrote:
....
Having acidic soil I had a 5 gallon metal bucket for them and when full
would sprinkle them on the back lawn. Never caused any harm.

thanks.


songbird

Farm1 wrote:
songbird wrote:
....
What I have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

I'd say that is WAY too thick an application.

how it turned out today the rate was probably
about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch at the most. this
isn't a surface application, this is mixed with
six to eight inches of acidic clay, sand, and
shredded bark. then repeat several times to get
down about a foot. topped with four inches of
plain soil (clay, sand, some organic material
mixed in). 5-10% of the ashes are charcoal.

the nitrogen deficit is intentional. for
select plantings there will be added worms/
worm poo. all that extra carbon is there to
raise up the area, soak up extra water and
soak up any extra nitrogen. i'll top dress
through the season with green manures if it
looks like things need a boost more than what
the w/wp provides. last year i didn't need
to add anything.

i think i gained about a foot and a half,
but that will settle by around a third.


I use wood ashes like I would
icing sugar on a cake - it's a light dusting
over the surface not a thick layer.

ok, you haven't ever used them by digging
them in?


I think 'icing sugar' is called soemthing
llike 'confectioner's sugar int he US, if
that is any help.

powdered sugar or confectioners sugar is
the use i've always heard.


songbird

Ecnerwal wrote:
songbird wrote:

what i have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
they won't be in direct contact with
plants at all, i'm mixing them in some
shredded bark/wood and then putting
several inches of heavy soil over them.


In many cases 1/2 inch might be overdoing it, I think. I usually just
stand on the upwind side of the garden and toss ashes into the air for a
thin broadcast layer (often on top of the snow in heating season - as
opposed to storing the ashes...) and that will get mixed in in spring.
In the orchard they are just spread around the trees and left on top of
the soil to gradually soak in.

i'm digging them in, layers deep, mixing
with an acidic clay and sand mix. as it
turned out today i probably used about 1/8
to 1/4 inch of ashes per layer of about
8 inches of mixed dirt and woody stuff.
topped by plain clay/sand mix with a few
organic materials in there.

the harshest reaction happens fairly soon
as there is contact with water. digging it
in will spread the reaction across a greater
volume.


They can actually be useful right on the surface of the soil - just give
a small buffer zone to plants, or use paper collars if you can stand
that or need to for cutworms anyway. They can be offputting to some
sorts of pesty bugs (not remembering exactly which at the moment.)

not likely to happen as these are raised
gardens for the most part and i would get
hassles from the management if she saw them
just sitting there on the surface.


They are alkali (like lime) and therefore should not be put on or mixed
with things intended for application to an acid bed, such as
blueberries. It's also one reason not to overdo them. Presumably folks
with alkaline soils might want to avoid them, I don't really know, our
soils are generally acidic without treatment and do better for most
plants with some lime or ashes added.

got that, thanks.

the same here, our soil is fairly acidic
clay. we have large areas of crushed limestone
mulch that adjusts pH. the poppies take over
if we let them.

the strawberry patches only get added organic
materials. i haven't needed to sulfur them yet.
they're raised up if they are in a flood prone
area.

blueberries are on my "someday" wishlist.


They are a good source of potassium (the alkaline factor is primarily
KOH, IIRC) and trace minerals. If they happen to have some charcoal, all
to the good.

about 5-10% charcoal. thanks,


songbird

"songbird" wrote in message
...
Farm1 wrote:
songbird wrote:
...
What I have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

I'd say that is WAY too thick an application.

how it turned out today the rate was probably
about 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch at the most. this
isn't a surface application, this is mixed with
six to eight inches of acidic clay, sand, and
shredded bark. then repeat several times to get
down about a foot. topped with four inches of
plain soil (clay, sand, some organic material
mixed in). 5-10% of the ashes are charcoal.

the nitrogen deficit is intentional. for
select plantings there will be added worms/
worm poo. all that extra carbon is there to
raise up the area, soak up extra water and
soak up any extra nitrogen. i'll top dress
through the season with green manures if it
looks like things need a boost more than what
the w/wp provides. last year i didn't need
to add anything.

i think i gained about a foot and a half,
but that will settle by around a third.


I use wood ashes like I would
icing sugar on a cake - it's a light dusting
over the surface not a thick layer.

ok, you haven't ever used them by digging
them in?

No. I usually water after I've applied them though. It tends to be
seasonal task here - mostly spring and autumn.


I think 'icing sugar' is called soemthing
llike 'confectioner's sugar int he US, if
that is any help.

powdered sugar or confectioners sugar is
the use i've always heard.


songbird

On Saturday, April 27, 2013 11:43:35 AM UTC-4, songbird wrote:
i have some wood ashes available and have

been reading up on the best ways to use them.



i'd be interested in hearing from people

who use them and experiences or cautions.



what i have read so far says to not

overdo it keeping the application rate

for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

they won't be in direct contact with

plants at all, i'm mixing them in some

shredded bark/wood and then putting

several inches of heavy soil over them.



i can put plenty more down deeper if it

would really help the soil conditions and

nutrients, but i also don't want to waste

them.



thanks!





songbird

We use the wood stove regularly from October through April as there's no radiator in the living room. We cut and burn five or six trees each year, so we have a lot of ash. During the winter we scatter the ashes over the garden and let the rain and melting snow work it into the soil. After the spring tilling, we empty the ashes onto the compost pile.

On 4/27/2013 8:42 PM, songbird wrote:
Frank wrote:
...
Having acidic soil I had a 5 gallon metal bucket for them and when full
would sprinkle them on the back lawn. Never caused any harm.

thanks.


songbird


I should have added that I don't put them on thick and scatter widely.
Frank

Frank wrote:
songbird wrote:
Frank wrote:
...
Having acidic soil I had a 5 gallon metal bucket for them and when full
would sprinkle them on the back lawn. Never caused any harm.

thanks.

I should have added that I don't put them on thick and scatter widely.

i read it as you meant it. sprinkle is much
different than pour or dump.


songbird

In article ,
songbird wrote:

i have some wood ashes available and have
been reading up on the best ways to use them.

i'd be interested in hearing from people
who use them and experiences or cautions.

what i have read so far says to not
overdo it keeping the application rate
for one time shot at 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
they won't be in direct contact with
plants at all, i'm mixing them in some
shredded bark/wood and then putting
several inches of heavy soil over them.

i can put plenty more down deeper if it
would really help the soil conditions and
nutrients, but i also don't want to waste
them.

thanks!


songbird

As we all know, Potassium (potash) is necessary for the development of
chlorophyll, that almost magical substance in green plants that
makes the miracle of photosynthesis possible. Potassium also
strengthens plant tissue and makes plants more disease resistant.
Plants that receive too little potassium look stunted. Potassium
washes out of compost quite easily. You can restore it to the garden by
adding wood ashes, greensand, or muriate of potash.

The late Bernard G. Wesenberg, a former Washington State University
Extension horticulturist, recommended using one gallon of ashes per
square yard on loam to clay-loam soil, and half as much on sandier soils.

If you are top dressing the lawn or flowerbeds use only about 1/4 to 1/2
inch of ashes per year.

--
Remember Rachel Corrie
http://www.rachelcorrie.org/

Welcome to the New America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA736oK9FPg

Farm1 wrote:
songbird wrote:
....
ok, you haven't ever used them by digging
them in?

No. I usually water after I've applied them though. It tends to be
seasonal task here - mostly spring and autumn.

ok. thanks.

how is your gardening season shaping up?


songbird