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Since ancient times, wood ash has been used in the garden and in the garden as a fertilizer. It contains calcium, potassium, phosphorus in the form of salts, which are easily absorbed by plants. In addition to them, there is also a small amount of boron, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, zinc, copper and other elements that are necessary for everything growing. Only nitrogen is missing, but ash contributes to its fixation in the soil. Most importantly, all these substances are of organic origin.
Where to get and how to store ashes
The value of ash is determined by the feedstock. The most useful is the one that is obtained after burning seaweed. That’s what scientists say. Gardeners-practitioners believe that the greatest benefit for the soil will be only what has grown in the area. They advise to give preference to the product of combustion of hardwood trees, fallen leaves, young shoots. For some reason, it is believed that coniferous ash contains fewer useful substances, although the amount of calcium, potassium, phosphorus in it is approximately the same as in birch ash.
Be that as it may, branches of trees and fruit bushes after pruning, foliage, grass, tops of vegetables, grapes, all climbing plants can be burned, and the final product can be used in your backyard or cottage. The main thing is not to throw plastic, polyethylene or anything like that into the fire. Experienced gardeners warn that glossy (coated) paper contains toxins that, when burned, are released into the air and remain in the ashes – it’s better not to risk it. If you suddenly have the opportunity to purchase wood ash, do not neglect it – this substance can be perfectly stored in a place inaccessible to moisture for an unlimited amount of time. Do not rush to use all at once, it is very useful only if the application is correct.
Coal ash is used much less often, because the microelements contained in it are not so easily absorbed by the roots of plants, their content leaves much to be desired. It is successfully used for draining and loosening heavy clay soils, draining swampy lowlands. Coal ash can only be used in a vegetable garden or in a flower pot as drainage.
Video “Instructions on how to apply ash to the soil”
Video instruction on the use of ashes in the garden and garden for soil and plants.
Fertilizer application
Wood ash does not contain chlorine – this expands the possibilities of its use, especially for chlorine-sensitive crops (potatoes, raspberries, currants, strawberries). But it alkalizes the soil, so its use is advisable only on acidic or neutral soils. You can not fertilize it with blueberries, blueberries, rhododendrons, which love to grow on acidic soils. Before the autumn and spring digging of a site with heavy soil, 100-200 g of ash per 1 square meter is applied; for light sandy loamy soils, only spring application is left. This makes the soil in the garden more loose, breathable, and helps plants take root after transplantation.
When preparing beds for vegetables, it is advised to add 1 cup of ash per 1 square meter or put 1 to 3 tablespoons in each well during planting seedlings of cucumbers, zucchini, squash, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes. It is useful for potatoes, cabbage, all flowering perennials. Currant loves wood ash: you can pour up to 3 glasses under each bush, and then immediately bury them in the ground. It brings great benefits to fruit trees, its use for plums and cherries is especially noticeable. Once every few years, a small ditch (up to 15 cm deep) is dug around the trunk around the crown perimeter, 1,5–2 kg of ash is poured there (for an adult tree), or a solution is poured, then immediately covered with soil.
The widespread use of ash in the garden is due to the benefits it brings to vegetables. For example, cucumbers need potassium and calcium to help form lashes, ovaries, and retain moisture in the cells. You can pour dry ash on the area before watering, you can make an infusion or solution, water the plants with it. The same applies to tomatoes, 5–7 days after feeding, their growth is already noticeably activated. They usually feed several times per season, except for the introduction of dry matter in the preparation of the garden.
Ash is used not only in the country, indoor flowers also respond gratefully to such fertilizer. Cyclamen, geranium, fuchsia, begonia bloom better in summer, do not lose leaf color in winter if fed with a mixture of wood ash with sleeping tea.
Ash against diseases and pests
This substance is able not only to fertilize, but to heal and protect against all kinds of pests, which is very important in the garden. You can protect your plants from slugs, Colorado potato beetle larvae, cruciferous fleas by spraying or sprinkling. Dry ash is deadly for snails and slugs – it sucks out water, so they will not climb onto the area sprinkled with it. It is advisable to pour the sifted ash on moistened plants so that it stays there longer. Or spray with a solution when direct sunlight does not burn the greens.
An infusion of ashes mixed with a decoction of herbs will help protect plants from black leg, powdery mildew, and leaf spot. He will scare away wireworms, aphids, fleas, scoops. A good remedy for aphids is an infusion of ashes combined with a soapy solution. They should be treated with green spaces early in the morning or in the evening.
Adding ash to the soil saves onions from root rot. A mixture of wood ash and tobacco dust will repel the onion fly. Ashes in the ground will save the roots from the larvae of the beetle. Currants and gooseberries are sprayed with an infusion of ashes so that snails, slugs, powdery mildew, moth caterpillars, sawfly larvae do not harm. Ants, wireworms, nematodes are also afraid of him. A solution of ash and laundry soap is used in the garden from pests such as moth and hawthorn caterpillars, kidney moths, all kinds of aphids, and codling moth. Trees are sprayed with this solution at dawn or in the evening several times.
How to prepare a solution from ash
Ash decoctions and infusions can be surprisingly useful not only for plant nutrition, but also for their protection and treatment. Prepare funds in several ways. If 300 g of sifted ash is poured with boiling water and boiled for at least 25 minutes, and then strained and diluted with 10 liters of water, we get a universal decoction. They can water vegetables and flowers for feeding. And you can spray the aerial part to protect against pests.
In the latter case, to enhance the effect, you can add 50 g of laundry soap, this will help small particles of the active substance stay longer on the leaves and stems of plants. If you do not want to pour ashes into each hole when planting, measuring the required amount for each plant, you can prepare a solution that will suit all crops in the garden. To do this, pour 1 glass of ash with 10 liters of water and stir well. Such a solution is poured into the hole near the plant and immediately covered with soil.
Some gardeners soak the seeds in an ash solution for better germination and protection from pests. For him, 2 tablespoons of the substance, filled with 1 liter of water, is enough. For fertilizing vegetable crops, a solution is made from 150 g of ash and 1 bucket of water. While stirring, it must be poured into the prepared grooves between the rows of vegetables and immediately covered with earth. So they feed cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes. Wood ash can be poured onto the ground, sprinkled with plants, watered with a solution – in any form it is beneficial in the garden and in the garden. You just need to remember about its ability to deoxidize the soil.
Video “The opinion of an expert on plants”
Informative video in which a plant expert explains the pros and cons, as well as the use of ashes in the vegetable garden and garden.
