100% leaf mulch this year - thoughts on deficiencies?

drew51 · December 17, 2014

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/can-ash...zer-88927.html
http://blog.mlive.com/gardening/2007...lp_or_hur.html

The jury still may be out if safe or not?
http://www.gardenality.com/Questions...nd-Plants.html

I saw a post on GW where Kingsford was asked can charcoal ashes be used in gardening. And they said no.
They would sell more product if they said yes.
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...205547592.html

From that thread... about coal ash (not charcoal). Interesting.

So, coal is really old plant material that can be processed into almost pure carbon. Charcoal is wood that is burned down into almost pure carbon. Not much difference, in my book. End of coal lesson.

Not much of a difference, no. But there is a difference. And unfortunately, this difference can cause a very serious set of problems if you use coal ash -- not plain charcoal ash -- anywhere in a garden. Coal ash contains small but harmful amounts of toxic metals, many of which are usually referred to as heavy metals. Including "arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel, vanadium, beryllium, cadmium, barium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, zinc, selenium and radium."

December 17, 2014	#9
drew51 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Sterling Heights, MI Zone 6a/5b Posts: 1,302	http://homeguides.sfgate.com/can-ash...zer-88927.html http://blog.mlive.com/gardening/2007...lp_or_hur.html The jury still may be out if safe or not? http://www.gardenality.com/Questions...nd-Plants.html I saw a post on GW where Kingsford was asked can charcoal ashes be used in gardening. And they said no. They would sell more product if they said yes. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...205547592.html From that thread... about coal ash (not charcoal). Interesting. So, coal is really old plant material that can be processed into almost pure carbon. Charcoal is wood that is burned down into almost pure carbon. Not much difference, in my book. End of coal lesson. Not much of a difference, no. But there is a difference. And unfortunately, this difference can cause a very serious set of problems if you use coal ash -- not plain charcoal ash -- anywhere in a garden. Coal ash contains small but harmful amounts of toxic metals, many of which are usually referred to as heavy metals. Including "arsenic, lead, mercury, nickel, vanadium, beryllium, cadmium, barium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, zinc, selenium and radium." Last edited by drew51; December 17, 2014 at 10:12 PM.