If you’ve ever started or been to a bonfire, you’ll know the wood ash that’s left behind after the fire is put out and all the guests leave.
Believe it or not, that ash has surprising uses from enhancing soil structure to potentially boosting plant growth!
A few years ago, a buddy of mine actually told me to keep the ash wood from our bonfires, knowing I was into gardening and could put it to good use in my backyard.
5 Surprising Uses Of Wood Ash To Boost Plant Growth Naturally
Use 1: Adjust Soil pH
If you’re dealing with highly acidic soil in your garden but want to grow plants like lavender and peonies that prefer more alkalinity, wood ash can be extremely useful in this situation.
Because it’s alkaline, mixing some wood ash with your soil can raise pH levels and turn them more neutral or slightly alkaline.
Use 2: It’s A Natural Fertilizer!
Wood ash is rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, making it a solid natural fertilizer.
If you’re trying to grow plants that thrive in slightly higher alkalinity and want to enrich your soil simultaneously, mixing wood ash with your soil is a good idea.
Just keep in mind that this wood ash doesn’t really contain a lot of nitrogen, so if boosting leafy growth and foliage is a priority, using store-bought fertilizer blends might be a better choice.
Use 3: Deter Pests
When sprinkled around plants and even directly on pests and insects, wood ash can dry out their delicate shells, forcing them out of the garden.
The rough texture of wood ash also deters any pests that may be lingering around and trying to crawl up to your plants.
Use 4: Enhance Compost
If used sparingly and with purpose, wood ash can enhance compost and add valuable nutrients to it.
As I mentioned, ash contains good amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium meaning it can also balance nutrient levels and indirectly aid with better, well-rounded plant growth.
Just make sure not to add too much wood ash to your compost or else the pH levels can become unbalanced and the organic matter will become overly alkaline which may not be suitable for certain plants in your garden.
Use 5: Boost Flower & Fruit Production
Potassium is a very important nutrient when it comes to boosting flower and fruit production. Fortunately for you, wood ash is quite rich in potassium.
Simply mix small amounts of wood ash with your soil frequently and see your plants improve flowering and fruiting over time.
However, again, be careful not to add too much wood ash at once, or else you can raise the soil pH dramatically which a lot of your garden plants may not be able to thrive in.
Conclusion
Next time you’re invited to a bonfire or host one at home with friends and family, consider collecting the ash once the fire’s out. You can use it to enrich your garden’s soil structure and ecosystem. Trust me, your plants will love you for it!
If you’re collecting ash from someone else’s bonfire, make sure to explain what you need it for; otherwise… Yeah… It can come across as a bit strange!
If you have any questions, you know what to do, just leave a comment below!
