Fire ash in compost worry
 

Normally I empty the ash from the log burner into the compost. I hear it is
good for the veg patch. Normally it is just wood ash but sometimes some
paper and card goes in the burner, sometimes shiny & printed stuff,
sometimes a bit of tanalised timber and sometimes some old wood with old
paint on it.

I don't know anything about the chemistry of these things but I did wonder
if I might be adding concentrated toxins to my veg patch.

Tim w

Fire ash in compost worry
 

In article ,
"Tim W" writes:
| Normally I empty the ash from the log burner into the compost. I hear it is
| good for the veg patch. Normally it is just wood ash but sometimes some
| paper and card goes in the burner, sometimes shiny & printed stuff,
| sometimes a bit of tanalised timber and sometimes some old wood with old
| paint on it.
|
| I don't know anything about the chemistry of these things but I did wonder
| if I might be adding concentrated toxins to my veg patch.

Find something else to worry about. Avoid putting the ash from too
much tanalised timber or old paint, as they contain heavy metals,
but vegetables will not take up much of them. Modern shiny paper is
unlikely to be a problem.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On 28 Jan, 14:50, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
Find something else to worry about. Avoid putting the ash from too
much tanalised timber or old paint, as they contain heavy metals,
but vegetables will not take up much of them. Modern shiny paper is
unlikely to be a problem.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

That's reassuring as I have always put the ash from our woodburner
onto the garden. However, I also have a solid fuel range, can I put
some of this on the garden?

JudithL at home

Fire ash in compost worry
 

In article .com,
" writes:
|
| Find something else to worry about. Avoid putting the ash from too
| much tanalised timber or old paint, as they contain heavy metals,
| but vegetables will not take up much of them. Modern shiny paper is
| unlikely to be a problem.
|
| That's reassuring as I have always put the ash from our woodburner
| onto the garden. However, I also have a solid fuel range, can I put
| some of this on the garden?

Of course, but I can't tell you whether it will do good or harm!
It is probably marginal, whichever way, and will depend on the source
of the coal/coke/whatever you are using.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Fire ash in compost worry
 

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

| [...] I did wonder
| if I might be adding concentrated toxins to my veg patch.

Find something else to worry about. [...]

Easily done.

Thanks

Tim w

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On 28 Jan, 13:35, "Tim W" wrote:
Normally I empty the ash from the log burner into the compost.

Fair enough. But I would consider keeping it separate, and laying it
in rings around tender plants. It forms an abrasive environment that
slugs don't like, and is a cheap and simple way of keeping the slimey
buggers off.

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On Jan 28, 2:57 pm, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
Of course, but I can't tell you whether it will do good or harm!
It is probably marginal, whichever way, and will depend on the source
of the coal/coke/whatever you are using.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

I use those nut shaped things, Taybrite. I expect it will be o.k. for
the flower beds, I hope.

JudithL

Fire ash in compost worry
 

In article . com,
" writes:
|
| Of course, but I can't tell you whether it will do good or harm!
| It is probably marginal, whichever way, and will depend on the source
| of the coal/coke/whatever you are using.
|
| I use those nut shaped things, Taybrite. I expect it will be o.k. for
| the flower beds, I hope.

Probably. A quick Web search indicated that their composition and even
shape are specified in a Statutory Instrument (albeit very approximately.)
18B in:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1997/19972658.htm

The mind boggles.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On Jan 28, 5:43 pm, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article Probably. A quick Web search indicated that their composition and even
shape are specified in a Statutory Instrument (albeit very approximately.)
18B in:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1997/19972658.htm

The mind boggles.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Thanks Nick, it seems there are statutes for everything these days!

JudithL

Fire ash in compost worry
 

"Tim W" wrote in message
...

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

| [...] I did wonder
| if I might be adding concentrated toxins to my veg patch.

Find something else to worry about. [...]

Easily done.

Thanks

Tim w

best way don't burn tanalised or painted wood. Toxins escape in to the air
and the ash is not good in the soil and burning too much can (note I said
can) result in excess deterioration of your fire box. 3 good reasons not to
use it, accepting the odd bit may get in accidently.

rob

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 13:35:04 GMT, "Tim W"
wrote:

Normally I empty the ash from the log burner into the compost. I hear it is
good for the veg patch. Normally it is just wood ash but sometimes some
paper and card goes in the burner, sometimes shiny & printed stuff,
sometimes a bit of tanalised timber and sometimes some old wood with old
paint on it.

I don't know anything about the chemistry of these things but I did wonder
if I might be adding concentrated toxins to my veg patch.

Tim w

I would echo Nick's comments. But remember that wood ash is quite
alkaline, being rich in potash but also lime. Fine for veg but not so
good for so-called lime-hating shrubs such as rhododendrons, camellias
and some heathers.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

Fire ash in compost worry
 

wrote in message
ups.com...


On Jan 28, 5:43 pm, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article Probably. A quick Web search indicated that their
composition and even
shape are specified in a Statutory Instrument (albeit very
approximately.)
18B in:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1997/19972658.htm

The mind boggles.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Thanks Nick, it seems there are statutes for everything these days!

Cuts both ways: at least you know you're probably getting a product of
standard quality for your hard-earned. But, and I wonder if this is a
big "but": what about the sulphur content? If it's a high-sulphur coal
and you put a lot of its ash down for a long time it may not be a good
idea. I don't know what the limits are at all for scattering on the
beds, but I can't see it doing a compost heap any good.

--
Mike.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On 28 Jan 2007 14:50:33 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:#

Avoid putting the ash from too
much tanalised timber or old paint, as they contain heavy metals,
but vegetables will not take up much of them. Modern shiny paper is
unlikely to be a problem.

I seem to remember the EU getting involved in tanalising a few years
ago (20000/2001 ?) and that the old ( traditional) tanalising
involving heavy metals (copper, chromium and arsenic) had been banned.

The replacement stuff, (copper triazol ?) is supposedly less toxic to
touchy/feely children chewing upon it.
I dont know how it reacts in a fire !
But dioxins from all the other stuff are perhaps more pertinent if one
wants to worry onself to death !

All off top of head, caveat emptor ,,

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:31:11 -0000, "Mike Lyle"
wrote:
big "but": what about the sulphur content? If it's a high-sulphur coal
and you put a lot of its ash down for a long time it may not be a good
idea.

Sulphur has long been used in many forms to cure all sorts of ills in
the garden .
But I think that applying it via coal ash may, perhps, not be the best
way !

Fire ash in compost worry
 

In article ,
(WaltA) writes:
| On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:31:11 -0000, "Mike Lyle"
| wrote:
| big "but": what about the sulphur content? If it's a high-sulphur coal
| and you put a lot of its ash down for a long time it may not be a good
| idea.
|
| Sulphur has long been used in many forms to cure all sorts of ills in
| the garden .
| But I think that applying it via coal ash may, perhps, not be the best
| way !

Most sulphur will burn to a gas and contribute to acid rain. The
amount left in the ash is unlikely to make any difference.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On 30 Jan 2007 09:22:14 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
| But I think that applying it via coal ash may, perhps, not be the best
| way !

Most sulphur will burn to a gas and contribute to acid rain. The
amount left in the ash is unlikely to make any difference.

Yes ! Which is why applying it via coal ash is not going to be the
best way ;)

PS. Will someone tell the news media that sulphur dioxide in rain does
not make sulphuric acid !

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On Jan 28, 2:57 pm, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article " writes:|
| Find something else to worry about. Avoid putting the ash from too
| much tanalised timber or old paint, as they contain heavy metals,
| but vegetables will not take up much of them. Modern shiny paper is
| unlikely to be a problem.
|
| That's reassuring as I have always put the ash from our woodburner
| onto the garden. However, I also have a solid fuel range, can I put
| some of this on the garden?

Of course, but I can't tell you whether it will do good or harm!
It is probably marginal, whichever way, and will depend on the source
of the coal/coke/whatever you are using.

The main worry with coal and smokeless fuels is from trace impurities
of heavy metals and boron that are concentrated in the ash waste.
Boron can be damaging to some plants (and weeds) and the heavy metals
are perhaps not ideal use on your veg patch. Most plants will grow OK
in soil with relatively high concentrations of heavy metals without
much problem.

OTOH Wood ash is an excellent source of free potash for fruit trees
and bushes. And the onion bed seems to benefit from any bits of
residual charcoal that is left over.

Regards,
Martin Brown

Fire ash in compost worry
 

In article ,
(WaltA) writes:
|
| PS. Will someone tell the news media that sulphur dioxide in rain does
| not make sulphuric acid !

But you had better ensure that your language is not too sulphurous.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Fire ash in compost worry
 

| PS. Will someone tell the news media that sulphur dioxide in rain does
| not make sulphuric acid !

But you had better ensure that your language is not too sulphurous.

LOL !
Yes

Fire ash in compost worry
 

In article .com,
"Martin Brown" writes:
|
| The main worry with coal and smokeless fuels is from trace impurities
| of heavy metals and boron that are concentrated in the ash waste.

Yes.

| Boron can be damaging to some plants (and weeds) and the heavy metals
| are perhaps not ideal use on your veg patch. Most plants will grow OK
| in soil with relatively high concentrations of heavy metals without
| much problem.

Only in fairly large quantities. It is an important nutrient in
small ones. Just like many other metals for both plants and animals!

I don't know how mobile it is in the soil.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Fire ash in compost worry
 

On Jan 30, 12:15?pm, (WaltA) wrote:
| PS. Will someone tell the news media that sulphur dioxide in rain does
| not make sulphuric acid !

But you had better ensure that your language is not too sulphurous.

LOL !
Yes

It never does any good to be vitriolic, either.

--
Mike.