Gardeners Beware!
Many gardeners are aware of the benefits of using wood ash in the garden. It can be a great source of potash for plants, among numerous other benefits, but it can also cause problems. Maybe this seems like common sense, but I learned that doesn't mean it won't happen.
Wood ash in the garden has many benefits, so I do not want to scare people away from using it, but I do want to bring awareness to irresponsible use and the damage it can cause.
Here are 12 Surprising Uses for Wood Ash in the Home & Garden, just promise me you won't burn down your house!
Wood ash is primarily composed of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, but also contains trace amounts of iron, manganese, sodium, boron, zinc, copper, and molybdenum. Because it’s created through the combustion of plant materials, it holds many of the elements needed to support new growth and has long been used by gardeners and farmers as a natural soil amendment. If wood ash was packaged and marketed at garden supply stores, it would have an N-P-K value of 0-1-3. source
🔥Let's Talk About Fire🔥
Make Sure the Ash Is Extinguished BEFORE Adding to Your Garden
A few years ago, my parent's neighbor was cleaning out his woodstove and saving the ash in a metal can. He often used it in his garden beds to improve the soil quality. This one particular time, he took the can of ash (which he thought to be completely extinguished) and spread it in his garden. It was nearly winter time, so there was no shortage of dry leaves and brush through the garden bed. His garden bed also happened to be along the fence that divides his property from my parent's property.
That area of the yard is where my parents have two sheds, an enclosed trailer and also where I stored many landscaping tools of mine (I was renting a place that did not have room for it). The neighbor also had a shed with a custom Harley Davidson Motorcycle and many other personal items within it. Well... I got a call one day and came over to this:
This is taken from my parent's property, looking towards where the neighbor's $30k custom Harley once sat in a shed that used to be there. THANKFULLY no one was hurt.
I Learned A Few Hard Lessons
- Don't store everything you own in one area - it is subject to entire loss in one swift motion.
- Fire is devastating - this accident made my life very difficult for a long time.
- Common sense isn't common and neither is fire safety, apparently.
- Ash is NOT always great for the garden - if it ends with fire, it's not good.
Fire Has NO Feelings and Does NOT Care About Yours
Thankfully that propane tank did not explode - that would've been far worse and potentially lethal!
Ironically, we had a fire hydrant from the restoration of Baltimore City many years ago, given to us by my great uncle. It survived!
The ladders, rims and tires, trailers, dollies, truck cap, go-kart, and basically everything else wasn't as lucky. The fire hydrant was unharmed.
Funny thing - I got 3 identical fortunes in my fortune cookies - I assume it was referring to Good Luck "tobay", but... 😆
I was hoping the type error would counteract the voodoo curse😂
Final Thoughts for My Woodburing, Ash-using, Steemit-Gardening Friends
Always keep one of these handy!
It's better to have a fire extinguisher and never need it than to need one and not have it.
Always be sure your extinguisher is full and everyone in your home knows how to use it
Be wise if using wood ash in the garden because accidents like this are more common than you think.
