wood ashes?

[ousoonerfan22]

My parents burn wood in their stove and store the ashes in a 55 gallon barrel until it's full.Would dumping the ashes in an area for a future food plot add any nutrients to the soil?

[okiedog]

I take the ashes for my wood burning stove in the shop and put around the pine trees I have planted. Sure does them wonders, but they are an acid loving tree.

[LETMGROW]

I can remember my grandparents putting ashes on their garden, however they spread them only on certain parts. Now, I assume they were trying to raise or lower the PH in the soil. I don't know which way it would go. These old farm types were smart. Just wish I had known enough to ask WHY.
Let's hope dogdoc sees this. He may know the answer or he will find it!

[wtnhunt]

Ash will help raise the ph essentially doing the same as lime if I am not mistaken. When we burn wood, I do dump the ashes in our garden spot. Also burn the garden off in the spring where I dump leaves from the fall.

As far as the ashes doing anymore than raising the ph, I do know that the ground is always pretty fertile where brush is burned.

[luckyman4]

You may have heard the term "pot ash" when referring to potassium in fertilizers. That's because ashes were often used to increase potassium in soil. My grandfather always used ashes on his garden as well, as much to keep bugs away as anything else. Ashes also contain alot of calcium, and therefore will raise soil pH. They should be a good additive for foodplots with clovers and other legumes, provided your soil does not already have a high pH.

Here's an article from a google search:



Wood Ashes as Fertilizer

There has been considerable talk lately of recycling yard prunings and clippings as mulches and composts. Another source of recyclable materials is the ash from the fireplace or barbecue. At one time wood ashes were a chief source of potassium and much used in farming and horticulture. While not an important fertilizer anymore, gardeners with a supply of ashes often want to know if they would be useful as a fertilizer or soil amendment.

The answer is yes, if used appropriately. The benefits derived from ashes depend on your soil and the rate at which the ashes are applied. Generally, ashes contain potassium, a major plant nutrient plus a number of minor nutrients. Wood ashes contain all the mineral elements that were in the wood, except for nitrogen and sulfur which are lost through the burning process. Potassium, calcium and magnesium carbonate or oxide are present in comparatively large amounts giving the ashes a strongly alkaline reaction which can neutralize acid soils. However in soils that are already alkaline, high application rates can be harmful. A further compounding problem is that about 80 to 90 percent of the minerals in wood ashes are water-soluble, so that high application rates can cause salts to build up in soils, resulting in plant injury.

As a plant food, ashes contain 5 to 7 percent potassium and 11/2 to 2 percent phosphorous. They also have 25 to 50 percent calcium compounds. Hardwood (e.g. oak) ashes contain more potassium than those from softwoods (e.g. pine). If left out in the rain, because these nutrients are water-soluble, the ashes will lose their nutritive value. The less soluble carbonates which cause alkalinity will remain longer.

So how to use ashes? An average application is 5 to 10 pounds per 100 square feet, scattered on a freshly tilled soil and raked in. For a pre-plant treatment, it is best to apply ashes 3 or 4 weeks in advance of planting. They also can be sidedressed around growing plants or used as a mulch. A ring of ashes around a plant may ward off snails and slugs because the ashes are irritating to them.

In order to avoid problems of excess salinity or alkalinity, the applications should be limited to once per year. Avoid contact between freshly spread ashes and germinating seeds or new plant roots by spreading ashes a few inches away from plants. Ashes that settle on foliage can cause burning. Prevent this by thoroughly rinsing plants after applying ashes. Because they are alkaline, avoid using ashes around azaleas, camellias and other acid-loving plants.

Remember that ashes contain very little nitrogen, so your plant's need for this element must be met by other sources in a regular fertilizer schedule.

[Gator]

[ QUOTE ]
I take the ashes for my wood burning stove in the shop and put around the pine trees I have planted. Sure does them wonders, but they are an acid loving tree.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dang sure does, draws them bucks RIGHT to the pines!!

[okiedog]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I take the ashes for my wood burning stove in the shop and put around the pine trees I have planted. Sure does them wonders, but they are an acid loving tree.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dang sure does, draws them bucks RIGHT to the pines!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats a sore subject

[Gator]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I take the ashes for my wood burning stove in the shop and put around the pine trees I have planted. Sure does them wonders, but they are an acid loving tree.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dang sure does, draws them bucks RIGHT to the pines!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats a sore subject

[/ QUOTE ]

OOOOPS, I had forgot about THAT!!

[okiedog]

Guess thats what I get for planting them between a 55gal feeder and a pond.

Sorry.... back to subject!

[Tominator]

I use wood ash around here to kill plants as our soil is very alkaline.

Also, be careful when handling ash as it is toxic when airborn. Where a mask when you spread it.