Wood ash , although it is generally waste, can be used to fertilize garden plants.Ash fertilizershould be used in the garden both in spring and autumn, adding it to the compost or sprinkling it directly onto the beds. You can also usewood ash as a lawn fertilizerBut beware - not alwaysash fertilizationis beneficial! Learn how to make the best use ofwood ash in the gardenand when to do it.
Wood ash works as a soil deacidification fertilizer,
and also as a compost additive rich in macro- and microelements
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Wood ash as a fertilizer - properties, application
Wood ashis nothing but a by-product of biomass combustion. It has an alkaline reaction and a rich elemental composition. Theash fertilizerobtained from plant biomass contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium and microelements essential for plants. However, it does not contain nitrogen, as this is released into the atmosphere when wood is burned.Wood ash used as a fertilizermay contribute to the improvement of the physicochemical properties of the soil and the yield of plants. It is an excellent alternative to mineral fertilizers.
Due to its high pH, wood ash can be used for soil deacidification, similarly to fertilizer lime. However, numerous studies show thatthe action of wood ash can increase the yield of plantsin some soils by up to 45% compared to traditional calcium fertilizers.
It also works very well wood ash as an additive to compost , supplementing the resulting fertilizer with ingredients such as phosphorus, potassium or calcium.
The amount of wood ash harvested varies according to the type of wood. Hard wood (oak, ash, hornbeam) usually produces more ash than softwood (linden, pine, birch). On the other hand, the bark and leaves tend to produce more ash than the inner parts of the tree. Conifer ash has less minerals than hardwood ash.
Note!For fertilizing plants, you must not use ash from burning stained, impregnated or varnished wood, paper, cardboard and garbage, due to the content of harmful chemicals. Only the ash resulting from the combustion of natural, raw wood may be used for fertilization.
Fertilization with wood ash - dates, dosage
Fertilization with wood ashcan be performed throughout the growing season. As it contains valuable macro and microelements, except for nitrogen, it is perfect for autumn fertilization, when nitrogen fertilization is inadvisable.The phosphorus and potassium it contains will prepare the plants for wintering.
Fireplace ashis also perfect for autumn soil de-acidification. We select the ash dose depending on the soil pH and the requirements of our plants. Numerous experiments on the effect of ash on soil properties show that the most convenient dose is 30-50 g per 1 m². Smaller doses do not significantly affect the soil pH and nutrient content. If our soil is very acidic, the dose can be increased to 80 g per 1 m². Mix the ash with the surface layer of the soil to a depth of 10 cm.
Wood ash as a fertilizershould not be used on alkaline soils (pH above 7.5), where it will raise the already high soil pH more, and too high a single dose of ash will easily lead to the unfavorable phenomenon of soil salinity.
Wood ash used in the garden,
should only come from burning natural wood
What plants can be fertilized with wood ash
Wood ash is perfect as a fertilizer for vegetables and fruit plants.Chimney ashcontains a large amount of calcium, an element extremely important in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits. Calcium deficiency causes inhibition of plant growth, the appearance of dry rot on the tops of tomatoes and peppers, or bitter blotch on apples. The leaves are also deformed and their tips dry. By usingwood ash as fertilizerwe can prevent these calcium deficiencies.
Fertilization with wood ashcan also be done on flower beds and under ornamental plants that like the alkaline pH of the soil, such as jasmine, privet, dogwood, hawthorn or evergreen boxwood.
Due to its de-acidifying properties,wood ash should not be usedunder acidophilic plants such as blueberry, Kamchatka berry, healing berry, rhododendron, azalea, pieris and conifers.
Wood ash as a fertilizer for the lawn
Fertilization with wood ashcan also be done on the lawn. However, when deciding to fertilize your lawn with ash, remember to use it moderately. At the same time, let's give up other fertilizers rich in magnesium, iron or calcium, thus avoiding over-fertilization. Too high a dose of ash can cause problems with iron or boron uptake, and consequently weaken the grass. However, wood ash can be mixed with nitrogen and potassium fertilizers.
Wood ashcan also be used to combat moss on lawns. This ecological equivalent of dolomite will increase the pH of the soil, eliminating moss, and additionally, thanks to the iron content, it will improve the condition and color of the grass.Remember, however, not to introduce ash into the freshly limed soil. We get too high calcium concentration in the soil, reducing the absorption of phosphorus.
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