Saving Ash

Anyone clearing ash from their fires or wood burners this winter shouldn't begrudge the chore, since it's actually a really valuable commodity down the allotment! Wood ash is not only a useful source of nutrients, including potash, but also a good way of deterring slugs.

Make sure you only use ash from untreated wood. Coal ash or ash from treated wood is toxic and will kill your plants!

Start saving ash from your fire now and spread it in the spring around plants you want to protect from slugs. You can also spread it now on unplanted beds, best done before it rains to wash in as a way of enriching the soil before planting later. Alternately, just add it in thin layers to your compost heap.

Try not to get ash on your plants as it is alkaline. We mostly have clay (acidic) soil at the allotments, so feel free to use it on your plot - it's a useful substitute for lime. Wood ash is particularly beneficial to fruiting trees and bushes but make sure you don't spread it near acid loving plants such as blueberries, or on already alkaline soil.

Submitted by Tigger