Thought I'd share this on wood ash

[Raul-02]

Wood Ash.

One gallon wood ash can cover a 200 Foot Square area (10 X 20)

Of that gallon over the 200 Sq Feet the calcium carbonate in it will alter the pH raising raise it about .02 pH points.

Put half a cup of sulfur in that gallon, and it’ll neutralize the alkalinity. The bacteria will convert it to the oxoanion called sulfate and in that form the plants can use it.

So with Sulfur and ash you will have fertilized with everything the plants need excepting only nitrogen.



Ash stimulates microbial activities and mineralization in the soil by improving both the soil’s physical and chemical properties. Improved soil quality from the nutrients found in wood ash can lead to better growing conditions for vegetation. Wood ash has a high alkalinity or neutralizing capacity. It's about 9 - 11 pH. Because of this and elevated contents in alkaline earth elements, wood ash can raise the pH of acidic soils. Wood ash reacts more quickly in raising soil pH than lime.



Ash is a direct source for phosphorous, calcium, magnesium and potassium. It can correct soil nutrient deficiencies. Ash can reduce the total carbon and nitrogen in a soil by increasing the solubility of organic carbon and the nitrification rate. So be careful how much you use.

 

[cqaigy2]

Very interesting!

Where did you find this out?

 

[4570Man]

I throw all of my wood stove ashes on the grass from my front and back porch. It’s a pretty heavy application and that’s always the greenest grass in the spring.

 

[CalG]

How much is too much? And how can you tell?

All our wood stove ash (call it 3 gal per week) goes onto the gardens or onto the compost.

I really like to see the black char in the soil. You know, that char is natures NANO TUBES?
They hold beneficial bacteria in a way unique to all other forms. It has to do with the small distances of nano structures.

 

[Raul-02]

Where did you find this out?

Reading white papers on the web from Ag colleges

 

[CalG]

I'm wondering how wood ash might effect the Asian jumping worm problem. Hoping for the best....

 

[Raul-02]

How much is too much? And how can you tell?

Well you already know not to over fertilize, and you know why. 1 gallon for 200 is a good starting point coz your ash may be higher in mineral content than others. Ash is not a terribly consistent product. The pH varies dramatically. So I'd start with that and if you can get away with more then great.

 

[4570Man]

Well you already know not to over fertilize, and you know why. 1 gallon for 200 is a good starting point coz your ash may be higher in mineral content than others. Ash is not a terribly consistent product. The pH varies dramatically. So I'd start with that and if you can get away with more then great.

My experience is no ill effects happen from over applying ash. I’ve had it literally piled on my grass with no side effects.

 

[two_bit_score]

My experience is no ill effects happen from over applying ash. I’ve had it literally piled on my grass with no side effects.

It just takes a little longer for it to dissipate into the soil. Just like burn piles. In about no time at all the grass will grow right over them.

 

[jeff9366]

So with Sulfur and ash you will have fertilized with everything plants need except nitrogen.


Your wood ash may contain adequate amounts of POTASSIUM. My wood ash does not.

 

[Cycledude]

Many years ago I read that wood ash is great for apple trees so I’ve been dumping 5 gallons around my apple tree every year since reading that, can’t really tell if it has helped anything but it sure doesn’t seem to have hurt anything.

 

[3Ts]

Is there a difference between hard wood ash and softwood ash?

 

[Torvy]

Is there a difference between hard wood ash and softwood ash?

I prefer soft ash. I am too old to be dealing with a hard ash.

 

[Cycledude]

Hardwood ash is a lot heavier than softwood ash, as far as fertilizer value I have no idea which one might possibly be better.

 

[CADplans]

We have always had "acid rain" from coal fired power plants "up wind" from where I live.

It was so bad in the 1980's, that the big 3 car manufacturers were sending out letters.
The letter explained that the pitting on your windshield was from acid rain, and was not a warrantable car defect.

Well, the coal fired generating plants must be shut down now.
All summer, I monitored my rain water,, the pH is 7.0 (even now)
and the ppm of contaminants (or anything else) is below 8ppm.

My blueberries have been sickly over the last 10 years of trying to grow them,
in spite of all the "remedies" offered on line (wood chips, acidifying organic additives,, etc,,)
my pH check of the soil ALWAYS showed 7.0, no matter WHAT I added,,

I decided,, I was gonna KILL them, or fix them, I bought a GALLON of muriatic acid!!
(It was the high powered "swimming pool" stuff)

I dumped the entire gallon around three plants (all that survived the planting of close to 20 plants)

THEN, I ordered 120 pounds of elemental sulfur from Lowes, they offered free shipping.
It came in two 60 pound boxes.

I poured several cups of sulfur around the same plants, and tilled it in the soil..
That was 2020.
I did not see much change.
Well, in 2021, after over 10 years of trying, the blueberries took off,, now growing like weeds.
Sulfur does nothing until some microbes eat it, converting it into acid.
I believe the sulfur was basically dormant for a year, that is why my overload of acidifying zeal did not kill the plants.

Most plants prefer slightly acidic soil, with my sandy soil, and neutral rain, my soil pH quickly goes to 7.0.
I may need to get more acidification for everything I grow.

I did put some sulfur on a spot of pasture as a test,, but, I am still waiting to see any change,,
NO MORE LIME FOR ME,, as far as trying to change pH,,,

 

[ruffdog]

Ashes may not be good for plants that are acid loving like blueberries:

https://www.thespruce.com/is-wood-ash-good-for-garden-soil-1403126

I already have a high PH so I should NOT put ashes in the garden.

 

[shooterdon]

Ashes may not be good for plants that are acid loving like blueberries:

https://www.thespruce.com/is-wood-ash-good-for-garden-soil-1403126

I already have a high PH so I should NOT put ashes in the garden.

I think you have that backwards. A ph soil needs acidity.

 

[ruffdog]

From above article:

Most wood ash contains a good percentage, about 25 percent, of calcium carbonate, an ingredient in garden lime. If your soil is very acidic (5.5 or lower), amending with wood ash can raise your soil pH.


On the other hand, if your soil is neutral or alkaline, to begin with, adding wood ash could raise the pH high enough to interfere with the plant's ability to take in nutrients. Wood ash should also be avoided around acid-loving plants like rhododendrons and blueberries.

 

[Raul-02]

My experience is no ill effects happen from over applying ash. I’ve had it literally piled on my grass with no side effects.

Not gonna call you wrong. I too have played with ash with out knowing what I was doing and the grass is still there.
All I can tell you for sure is an over abundance of certain minerals can be bad for plants.

 

[Raul-02]

how wood ash might effect the Asian jumping worm problem

Maybe if the ash was generated by piling wood in the soil and burning it to heat the soil. I think you need 150F