[jotegan]

hi - I'm a very new allotment holder and have been following posts for months all you lovely people have a solution for everything!
So I'm hoping somebody will be able to help me - our local chimney sweep has offered all his soot for the allotments to use as a kind of mulch/compost? Is it a good idea - the soil has lots of clay in but breaks up ok

look forward to your responses

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

I know it used to be applied but I don't know whether it's still regarded as effective or - in the light of smokeless fuels used in some areas these days - a good idea if there are chemicals in the soot residue.

[fatcat1955]

Do not use it fresh as the sulphur content can burn young plants. Store for 3 months. It can be used as a fertiliser/deterent for slugs, but i'm not sure about the legalities .

[jotegan]

thank-you for your responses - maybe will take some and store over winter and see how well it works!