Wood Ash for Soil Building

greenthumbomaha · October 15, 2019

In my main garden I have clay soil, and it is highly alkaline.
At the lake I have raised beds very sandy despite additions of black cow and bagged pine chip mulch, still alkaline too.

I scooped up a bucket of wood ash from a burn pile. The pile contained fallen branches from a silver maple but mostly ash trees. Lighter fluid and gas was used to burn the pile.

Ideally I would like to use this as a soil amendment for edibles, but would like advice on its best use. I rarely have natural products available, except for a small amount of leaves. I am always buying and hauling bags.

- Lisa

October 15, 2019	#1
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Wood Ash for Soil Building In my main garden I have clay soil, and it is highly alkaline. At the lake I have raised beds very sandy despite additions of black cow and bagged pine chip mulch, still alkaline too. I scooped up a bucket of wood ash from a burn pile. The pile contained fallen branches from a silver maple but mostly ash trees. Lighter fluid and gas was used to burn the pile. Ideally I would like to use this as a soil amendment for edibles, but would like advice on its best use. I rarely have natural products available, except for a small amount of leaves. I am always buying and hauling bags. - Lisa