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Decatur, GA

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As the heating season begins, folks with fireplaces and wood stoves wonder if they can use the ashes in their

landscape. Compared to a bag of store-bought fertilizer, ashes don't contain many nutrients, but your plants will appreciate the bit of phosphorus and potassium just the same.

The major contribution of ashes is as a substitute for garden lime. Ashes and lime are both alkaline; they "sweeten" soil and make it less acidic. Ashes, though, are so alkaline that you wouldn't want to apply too much to your soil.

A good rule of thumb is to spread no more than 25 pounds of ashes over 1,000 square feet of lawn or garden each year (10 pounds each six months).

Since preformed artificial fireplace logs are made from wood chips, their ashes can be used just as you would use "natural" ashes.

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9 Comments

Dan's of Central Florida,... Clermont, FL

My wife likes to mix a bit of ashes into her little compost heap. Seems to work well for her.

on Dec 08, 2011 · Like 0
Bob and RodMan S Tucker, GA

Walter, when I was a kid, in the 50's, several of our neighbors used to burn over their dormant lawn. They preached that it "sweetened" the soil and kept down weeds. Their lawns lookd fine in the Spring (as though I could tell the difference). Was that just coincidence or did the practice actually do what they thought?

on Dec 08, 2011 · Like 0
The Landscape Guy-Atlanta... Decatur, GA

If nothing else, burning the lawns back then was a pretty efficent method of dethatching;-) There was one Zoysia lawn in our neighborhood as a kid-I knew that because every time we would cut across it walking to/from school the man would come out and tell us how much it cost and to keep off. He burned it every winter and it was always thick and lush.

on Dec 08, 2011 · Like 0
Walter Reeves Decatur, GA

In my view, the early greenup and minimal nutrition that burning affords are much outweighed by the increased liability (I speak as the son of an insurance man). Landscape mulch is VERY flammable. And a little breeze can push fire VERY quickly.
I tell radio callers who ask about burning their lawns to pose the question to their insurance agent.....and listen for the click..click...click on the other end of the phone as s/he cancels their policy.

on Dec 08, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

Just to add to this post. Ashes can remain hot for several days. Please do not put them in paper bags for storage. Use metal cans and do not store the ash in the garage regardless of what you hold the ash in. Or if you are discarding it, do not put in the garbage can. it only takes one hot coal to start a house fire.
One last note, Do NOT use your house vacuum to clean up the fine dust after you shovel the ash ...»
out of the fireplace. This fine dust when compressed in a hot vacuum bag can ignite by spontaneous combustion and burn your home down as well. Use a damp rag and wipe the dust out for safety.

on Dec 09, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

In addition to ash is a "fire by product" called biochar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar
I remember reading about some months back in my Mother Earth News.

on Dec 09, 2011 · Like 0
Paul M Fairburn, GA

You can do this with your ashes too. Of course this is a lost art and most folks would not even try it.
http://www.grannyslyesoap.com/

on Dec 09, 2011 · Like 0
Patsy W Smyrna, GA

Great post & reminder Walter...any plants that will really benefit from fireplace ash, ie azaelas, hydrangias etc?

on Dec 09, 2011 · Like 0
Flowerscapes Garden Desig... Suwanee, GA

Azaleas, hydrangeas, camellias etc like acid. The ashes help to neutralize the soil so no ahes for acid loving plants. Maybe they can make a worse environment for moss in the lawn?

on Dec 10, 2011 · Like 0