[Welsh Merf]

Due to the horrific price of gas these days, Mrs James and I are seriously considering getting rid of the gas fire in the living room and exchanging it for a more efficient wood-burning stove.

We are planning on getting a multi-fuel stove that will also burn coal, should the need arise.

My question is simply: can I use the wood/coal ash from the stove on my allotment and how can I use it?

Many thanks in advance!

[wildwitchy]

I use wood ash but not coal ash.

[Welsh Merf]

Wildwitchy - pray tell me what you do with it?

[wildwitchy]

I only have the fire on in the winter so I just dig it into the ground when I throw the ashes out. Sometimes have a log fire/sometimes coal. Just like manure, leave it to winter in ready for the spring. Coal ash is toxic though so wouldn't use that. I just put that it the rubbish.

[gremlin]

I  have a log fire and use the ash as a source of potash.  Particularly for strawberries and raspberries.

I just sprinkle the ash on the soil and let the rain wash it in.  Nothing scientific. I never have enough ash to put more than a dusting round the plants anyway.

This year I burnt an old fence, but because it might have been tanalised with (copper chrome and arsenic) I kept that ash separate and put it in the dustbin.     I have put treated timber ash around bushes and trees before, but not food crops.  The plants did very well but, even so, I don't want to build up metals in my soil.

I also don't burn painted wood, especially if old ( if pre 1980ish ) because of the risk of lead in the paint.

[angelavdavis]

I save the wood ash to add to the fruit borders in spring.  Seems to work well.