Wood Ash is, as the name implies;
the ash remaining after wood is burned. It has the effect of Lime in soil.
It contains Calcium, soluable Potassium, Magnesium and trace elements
which raise the pH of soil or "sweeten" it .
Do not use Wood Ash if your soil
pH is already higher than 7.0, and do not use it around "Acid-Loving"
plants such as Azaleas, Blueberries, Holly, Rhododendron, Cranberries and
One or two Cups of Wood Ash per
year can be used for each shrub or rose bush. Spread it evenly on the soil
at the drip-line
so it gets watered into the rootlets. Work it into the soil lightly.
Hardwoods produce about three
times as much ash and five times as many nutrients as softwoods.
Ash from a Cord of seasoned Oak is sufficient
for a garden 30 by 140 feet. A cord of Douglas Fir ash is adequate for
a garden 30 by 30 feet.
About 20 pounds of Wood Ash is
produced from the burning of one Cord of average Seasoned
Firewood. It can be spread with most spreaders if you Sift
it first to remove any material too large to pass through the spreader.
It is best stored in plastic containers as it may destroy some metals.
A Woodburner which consumes 200
pounds of seasoned Hardwood in 24 hours can be expected to produce about
of Wood Ash. Do not store it in lumps or piles, because salts will Leech
into the soil, creating a questionable condition for nearby plants.