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Q&A – Are wood ashes beneficial for gardens?

Question:
Are ashes from burned wood beneficial for gardens?

Answer:
It depends. Wood ashes contain potassium and lime which is good. They also contain lye and salt which can be bad and can harm the soil. It is better to put them in the compost pile and let the rain leach the lye and salts out of the ashes.  Jim Crowder, from Memphis Botanic Garden, says a light dusting of ashes in the garden is fine, but make sure you did not burn treated lumber, fire starter logs, or other treated wood. Retired UT Extension Agent, Mike Dennison, says that if the pH of your soil is already correct don’t use ashes. They will change the pH. Instead, put the ashes in the compost pile.

Related Resources:
Plants That Like Wood Ash
Wood Ashes can benefit gardens
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  • Home
  • Watch
    • TV Schedule
    • Full Episodes Online
    • How-to and Informational
    • Questions and Answers
    • This Week in the Garden
    • Garden Notes
  • Garden Topic Collections
    • Apple Trees: How-to and Information
    • Peach Trees: How-to and Information
    • Tomatoes: How-to and Information
    • Square Foot Garden Blog
  • Resources
    • Soil Testing
    • Extension Publications
    • Gardening Resources
    • Blogs
    • Organic Gardening
    • Articles
    • Privacy
  • Guests
  • Contact Us
    • Ask a Gardening Gardening Question
  • Search