Hello, I have a large pile of ash from burning leaves, wood, limbs, pine straw etc, and I've read that ash can be helpful to plants if my soil ph is not over 7.5.
My questions is, how do you test your soil and what tools are used.
Im looking to test my soil soon and see some cheap and expensive testing kits on amazon.
thanks
On Sunday, January 6, 2013 12:34:59 PM UTC-5, Nathan Heafner wrote:
tc, and I've read that ash can be helpful to plants if my soil ph is not ov= er 7.5.=20
kits on amazon.=20
Nathan, I am by no means an expert. That said, wood ashes are usually used for= the potassium content, but there is no way of knowing what the potassium c= ontent of your wood ashes is as woods are not all the same. I have used woo= d ashes by running them through one of the compost piles for a season befor= e spreading, however that doesn't address how much potassium there is. Soil= testing is a great way to find out what is really in your soil and what yo= u might need. I have used a home kit (Rapidtest - I think). It was inexpens= ive, and gave me at least a rough idea of N-P-K, however, depending on how = large your garden is and how much time, energy (and money) you wish to devo= te to it you might consider having your garden soil tested by a professiona= l laboratory. This also is not very expensive and can give you a much more = accurate picture of your soil's needs. I have used a lab in Ohio (Logan Lab= s) for the last 3 years. Their report fairly easy to understand and there t= urnaround time is excellent. The veggies grown have never tasted better. Th= ere are many other labs. If you are in the states, your local extension ser= vice can probably suggest one, or even do basic testing for you themselves.= I test once a year, in the fall - although this year I might test again in= the spring as I am gardening in a new location and want to get an idea of = what my garden will need. There are also many books and internet resources = available to you. This is a shameless plug, but I lurk in a yahoo group: So= il and Health, where I have learned a lot and gotten advice from some excep= tionally knowledgeable (and nice) folks. I hope this answers some of your question. Good luck in all your garde= ning endeavors.
-Charlie in zone 5
and I've read that ash can be helpful to plants if my soil ph is not over 7.5.
I have some old pH papers I use from my lab days. Just touch moist soil. No special equipment needed. They should not have trouble finding. I see it at Amazon.
Nathan, I am by no means an expert. That said, wood ashes are usually used for the potassium content, _____________________________________ I've always heard and read that the primary use for ashes was because it's similar to liming. That's what I've always used them for anyway.
This cite from the RHS might be of interest to the OP:
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