What to do with wood ashes?

[1shotwade]

I save my wood ashes every year to use on the driveway during snow. I now have a backlog of ashes. Some have been left out in the weather to remove the "lye" and others have been kept dry in a barrel. It's time to do something with these ashes. 
I know Martin has stated to not use wood ashes in the garden. Is that because of containing the ability to produce lye? Where can I use these as a fertilizer to help plant growth? Maybe if not in the garden what about mulching around fruit trees? They should at least be good as a weed control if I can use the safely around some types of plants. Any help out there?
Thanks,

Wade

[Melissa]

All during the winter we just spread ours around the yard and pasture fields. With such a large area they end up being spread very thinly so I have never noticed a problem. I do save a few buckets to use for the chickens to dust themselves. There is a point during the summer when they are bothered by some sort of lice. I just dump some of the ashes in their barn and they go away.

This is not a scientific answer by any means, I will be reading this to see some of the ideas.

[gracielagata]

I am no expert.... Maybe I should go see what one says, though, as I thought ash in the garden was a good thing!
Over winter I dumped a few buckets worth in the garden. The rest I gave to my chickens to play in as they see fit. And the dogs go through it first and pull out the big chewable chunks to eat.

[Deleted]

I'm also interested in what Martin says about this.

I do use wood ash in the vegetable garden, but only from untreated wood, and not too much. As I also use wood shavings to mulch, which is said to acidify the soil, I use wood ash to balance soil ph.
What I don't use for the vegetables, I spread thinly throughout the yard. I have never had any problems so far. Just don't spread it around acid loving plants.

I heard you're not supposed to put wood ash in the compost pile, because it would release ammonia from the compost into the atmosphere, which is very bad for the environment.

[bowdonkey]

I use it around asperagus. They like an alkaline environment.  I also keep onion plants dusted with them till harvest. Any excess is spread under the apple trees and along the raspberry rows. Never enough ashes.

[paquebot]

Wood ashes are highly alkaline. It's easy to make a mistake but hard to correct. Unless one knows the pH of the soil, best place for them is on the lawn. Grow more grass to convert to compost and then to the garden. Then there's no mistake to correct. Besides, most vegetables prefer a pH range from 6.0 to 7.0 so there's no need to try to make it neutral. In fact, some will not germinate well in pH over 7.0. And if potatoes are grown, the ashes leave them open to scab. They may be added to compost piles but in moderation. How much that means is anyone's guess.

Martin

[my3boys]

I add them into the soil for my peas and beans only. So I shouldn't be doing this?

We only burn untreated wood.

[Deleted]

I pour it on the dog piles, and also use it in the compost pile when the pile is mostly manure (which it usually is). It helps break it down. My friend who doesn't use a garbage service layers it in the container where she dumps her used kitty litter, to completely eliminate the odor.  If I had an outhouse I'd keep a bucket of it in there.  It makes good ice melt. I knew a very good gardener who used a lot of it in his garden, and I was always impressed by his crops.

[1shotwade]

May 2, 2015 16:29:31 GMT bowdonkey said:

I use it around asperagus. They like an alkaline environment.  I also keep onion plants dusted with them till harvest. Any excess is spread under the apple trees and along the raspberry rows. Never enough ashes.

OK, I just tried this. I dug into the 3 year old pile and it is basically soil now so I got into the 2 year old pile and it is ash on top and soil below.I took off the top and added it around 4-5 plants about 1" deep. It should smother weeds at the least. Since it is that old I wouldn't think it could harm the plants being seep like that.

Wade

[paquebot]

May 2, 2015 17:23:51 GMT my3boys said:

I add them into the soil for my peas and beans only. So I shouldn't be doing this?

We only burn untreated wood.

Beans and peas do best in the pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.  As long as your soil is somewhere between those numbers, you'll be fine.  However, germination rate both of those are poor if 7.5 or higher.

Martin 

[1shotwade]

Thanks Martin,I'll be referring back to this seeing I have all summer to use up about 4 55 gallon barrels worth of ash!

Wade