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Re: Wood Ashes in the garden or compost pile

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Although ashes do make soil more alkaline, they have other purposes.  They
contain minerals and micronutrients that are perfect for fruit trees and
shrubs.  Scatter fireplace ashes around these trees in the spring, and
scratch in the ash for a nutrient boost.  I've heard gardeners claim that
lilacs, for instance, which love alkaline soil, will mature in half the time
if ashes are spread at their base every spring.  I'm trying it with my
6-inch high Miss Kim lilac bush!  Personally, I don't worry about alkalinity
in my SQ FT beds, because I incorporate so much peat moss that a dusting of
ash helps to balance the pH.  Also, lettuce and spinach like their soils
more sweet than other crops.  So, I dust the soil with ash and scratch it in
before I seed.  BTW, my lettuce, spinach and peas are up!  It's officially
spring here in the Zone 5 Mid-West!  The hoop houses came off the cabbage,
broccoli and purple cauliflower seedlings today, because it hit 65F.
Doreen Howard


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