[Wood-ashes under the trees] staples, nails & garbage question

Dec 09, 2024 Last reply: 1 year ago 2 Replies

Supersedes for Kraut2English



Good evening



As the proud owner of a wood stove >1, there is a certain amount of wood ash that I have to handle.



Until now, I filtered the ash to eliminate anything looking odd and as well the staples that keep together crates for fruit: I work at a place where worn out crates are piling up and they are quite efficient in our wood stove, in the morning.



The ashes, together with that of oak- and ash wood then go either – in small volumes – into the compost or I scatter it under the trees and bushes of our hedges.



My question is: Do you think I could just quit filtering the ashes? The staples should rust and decay. But I cannot estimate an amount of metal or its oxides that the soil can condone.



I know people who do not care, and never hesitated to use the ashes in their vegetable garden and elsewhere, directly as they retrieved it from their stoves.



Having composed this article with the help of a German-English dictionary, I wonder now, if it was worth the effort. ;) You will tell me.



Cheerio



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1) meaning we emit the same CO2 that our trees had the time to accumulate during their life time, not the one that you dig out from the depths of coalmines or oil wells – not the topic of this post

Regarding nails and staples, I would only be concerned about injuring myself while digging or kneeling in my garden. However, I cannot put ashes in my own garden since the soils (and water) here tend to be alkaline; ashes are suitable only where soils are acidic. I often add sulfur when planting something.

Good morning and thank you David …

David E. Ross wrote in rec.gardens:

I forgot to mention that, indeed, our soils are of rather low pH. Now that I read it, this detail is probably important.

That wood ashes did a lot to change the pH value, I would not say, but at least they to not contribute to the problem. In no case they replace calcium-oxide in whichever form you prefer.

Cheerio

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