Ash what can it be used for?

[applecatchers36]

We have a surplus of Ash from winter fires, can it be used as a fertiliser for the garden and what plants is it good to use on?

Wood ash is good for roses, and you can add it to the compost heap if you mix it up. However, it is alkaline, so avoid things like raspberries, and don't overdo it.

Is it from a log burner or an open fire? The log burner stuff is so depleted of nutrients (because the fires are so efficient) that it doesn't have the same beneficial effects on the garden as stuff from an open fire. I still whack mine on the compost heap, in the hope that it provides a little bit of an alkaline boost for the worms! Open fire ash is higher in potassium, and great around fruit like raspberries.

If you had loads and loads, add a little at a time - you don't want to affect the pH too much!

Oh and, for obvious reasons, don't use it around acid-loving plants like rhodos!

Thanks so much for the advice, it is from open wood fire so hopefully still some nutrients? We have some rose bushes but no fruit bushes so will start with them and avoid the rhodo!

Open wood fire = perfect garden stuff!! You could put it in a bag and flog it!! Or just keep it and rake it into your own soil.

And I am TOTALLY wrong about raspberries - they DISLIKE ash!! Apologies to ifailed who is right about this!!