Are Ashes Good for the Soil

Many home gardeners and farmers choose to use wood ash as a soil amendment. Wood ash contains significant amounts of potassium and calcium, while providing smaller amounts of phosphorous and magnesium and micro-nutrients like zinc and copper. … Wood ash is a natural substitute for lime to help maintain proper soil pH.

Are ashes bad for garden soil?

Is ash bad for the soil? In small amounts (about one shovel load per square meter), wood ash can be a good thing for the garden and the soil – it’s a great liming agent (it’s highly alkaline), and a ripper source of potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Is Ash from fire good for soil?

Wood ash contains calcium, magnesium, and potassium among a dozen or more important nutrients. … Wood ash can be used sparingly in gardens, spread thinly over lawns and stirred thoroughly into compost piles. Lawns needing lime and potassium benefit from wood ash — 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet, Perry said.