Gardening Articles: Landscaping :: Yard & Garden Planning
Recycling Fireplace Ash by Charlie Nardozzi If you burn wood in
a fireplace or woodstove, you have lots of ash by spring.
Although I know wood ash can be applied to a garden, I'm never
sure how much to spread and what the effects on my plants may
be. Dan Sullivan, a soil scientist at Oregon State University,
has the lowdown on wood ash. The type of wood burned influences
the quality and quantity of ash. Hardwoods produce three times
as much ash as softwoods and contain five times the nutrients.
According to Sullivan, ash from burned trash, cardboard, and
painted or stained wood is toxic and shouldn't be used in the
garden. Wood ash contains 10 to 25 percent calcium, 1 to 4
percent magnesium, 5 to 15 percent potassium, and 1 to 3 percent
phosphorus. If it were a chemical fertilizer, the grade would be
0-2-10. Ash will increase soil pH, but not as dramatically as
lime: two pounds of wood ash equals 1 pound of ground limestone.
Don't apply ashes to your g