Use for ashes

[PapaPerk]

For all you wood burners out there... What do you do with the ashes? Is there something useful for them? Thank you

 

[DKCDKC]

I run the ashes through hardware cloth or similar to screen out large unburnt bits of charcoal, then till the rest into my garden. It is a wonderful additive. The unburnt charcoal goes back in the stove. I have a friend who puts at least a few inches of ash on his garden every year - and has the best vegetables in the area.

I know others who spread the ashes on gravel driveways and claim it holds down the rock better.

Before any use, make sure the ashes contain no hot coals. Otherwise you can't hurt much with them anywhere.

 

[cointoss]

My soil is acidic so I generally spread them around the yard and apple trees.

 

[creekbend]

Ash contains potash which is a natural fertilizer, but beware when spreading it, because it increases the PH-alkalinity of the soil. Spreading wood ashes around the edges of your garden will help to keep the snails and slugs out, somewhat. In the "Old Days" people in rural areas made lye soap, using wood ashes as an ingredient.

 

[MIKE R]

Works good for driveway traction material in the winter when it gets icy. Put some in the garden or spread in the bush. Any thing that might have nails in it goes to the garbage dump.

 

[Swiftriver]

Here in Maine we have a low ph in the soils so we mix with our compost and till em into our garden. Just make sure you sort the nails out.

 

[Mousefield]

Our animals produce lots of manure so I just spread the ashes over the manure pile. :licking:

 

[meadowlarkponds]

Coat your cut seed potatoes with ash.

 

[hosspuller]

Ash contains potash which is a natural fertilizer, but beware when spreading it, because it increases the PH-alkalinity or acidity of the soil. .

Wood ash increases alkalinity. NOT Acidity ... It's like liming the soil.

 

[techwrtr2]

So what does one do with coal ashes?

 

[creekbend]

Wood ash increases alkalinity. NOT Acidity ... It's like liming the soil.

My mistake. I knew better. It's been a long day. Thanks for the heads up. Acidic -PH 0 to 7, Alkalinity - PH 7 to 14.BTW, I corrected my previous post.

 

[Pete Judd]

I mix mine into the compost pile, and then when the pile is ready into the garden.

 

[LD1]

A few posters already hit on what I do.

I spread on the drive in the winter. Helps melt the snow/ice better on a sunny day, and it is 10x better than sand for adding traction.

And since I dont have a garden, but do have a rather LARGE mulch pile that is constantly replenished (thanks to the tree-trimmers in the area), I mix the rest in with the mulch. Because green chippings are really acidic as they break down. This helps keep the PH balanced so I dont risk killing plants if I happen to use the mulch before it is completey "seasoned"

 

[MotorSeven]

So what does one do with coal ashes?

I have't tried it because I don't have any, but my tractor dealer told me he just found a wonderful use for coal ash...filing in potholes. He says it works like a charm and they don't come back.

 

[20 20]

I make a paste out of the ashes, then paint my face and do a war dance :laughing: Just kidding, I use them like the others for driveway ice and compost. This year we have had a lot of ice so most of the ashe has gone for traction on the drive.

 

[techwrtr2]

I have't tried it because I don't have any, but my tractor dealer told me he just found a wonderful use for coal ash...filing in potholes. He says it works like a charm and they don't come back.

One can only fill in so many potholes. I take out 2-3 steel trash cans (20 gal?) full every week. I've thought of using it as a surface material on a road or two but don't want it tracking everywhere.

 

[powerpace]

The electric Co-Generation plants sell the ash to farmers as a soil amendment. These all burn scrap wood and chips.

I thought Coal ash was a hazardous material. Heavy metals and such.

 

[KennyG]

The electric Co-Generation plants sell the ash to farmers as a soil amendment. These all burn scrap wood and chips.

I thought Coal ash was a hazardous material. Heavy metals and such.

I don't think the EPA has made up it's mind on this one yet. There has been pressure to classify it as hazardous since the TVA failure of the holding pond a few years ago. However, it's likely that "recycle" uses would be exempt. Fly ash is a very common concrete additive and it's used in road construction. I would think it really becomes "hazardous" only in huge quantities.

I put my wood ash in the compost pile also. I figure it mixes well with the oak leaves.

 

[techwrtr2]

I don't think the EPA has made up it's mind on this one yet. There has been pressure to classify it as hazardous since the TVA failure of the holding pond a few years ago. However, it's likely that "recycle" uses would be exempt. Fly ash is a very common concrete additive and it's used in road construction. I would think it really becomes "hazardous" only in huge quantities.

I put my wood ash in the compost pile also. I figure it mixes well with the oak leaves.

The part that has made things confusing for me when I've gone looking for information is that most of it refers to soft bituminous coal rather than the hard anthracite mined here in eastern PA. Anthracite is all I use.

There was an article I read a while back from the EPA that said something to the effect that they didnt' have any data on what the contents of coal ash was when the source is hard coal so they made assumptions.

 

[UpToNoGood]

My Aunt would toss the ashes in the chicken coop. Never knew why, but them chickens would scratch the heck out of the ash.