Do you need ash? What to consider when fertilizing plants with wood ash. How much ash is contained in different containers

Wood ash has been used as fertilizer since ancient times. It has many useful elements that increase soil fertility, promoting good crop growth and rich harvests. What is the benefit of this substance, is it safe for use on the site and how to properly apply it to the soil - we will try to understand all these issues in this article.

Chemical composition and features of the use of ash

Let's take a closer look at what the wood combustion product consists of and what are the specifics of its use:

Due to the high content of potassium and phosphorus in wood ash, fertilizing the soil with it can be an even better option than using expensive and advertised products for this purpose.
In addition, this substance is of natural origin, which is an important advantage. All the necessary elements contained in the ash are in a form accessible to plants, i.e. well absorbed.
In addition to phosphorus and potassium, this fertilizer is rich in magnesium, iron, boron, molybdenum, manganese, etc.
Ash contains almost everything that is needed for good crop growth, except nitrogen. The fact is that when wood is burned, this element disappears, so plants that need it will have to be fed additionally. However, remember that the simultaneous application of nitrogen fertilizers along with ash can lead to excessive release of ammonia, which is unfavorable for seedlings.
Potassium, calcium, magnesium and some other substances can neutralize the acidity of the soil, so you should use fertilizers carefully. This fertilizer is perfect for acidic soil, but not for neutral or alkaline soil. Ash can raise the pH level too much, which will lead to insufficient nutrients being received by the crops.
The wood combustion product may have different compositions depending on its type. For example, ash obtained from deciduous trees will be more nutritious for garden plants, but coniferous trees will not provide as many useful elements. In addition, young trunks after burning have a greater supply of potassium than old ones.
The beneficial effects of ash on the soil last for quite a long time - 2-4 years after application.
This fertilizer can be stored for many years, but only in a carefully sealed container that does not allow moisture to enter. Otherwise, it will lose its beneficial qualities.

Rules for fertilizing with ash

To achieve optimal results of crop growth and good fruiting, fertilizing must be carried out taking into account certain requirements:

In heavy clay and loamy soils, ash should be added in the autumn; for sandy and peaty soils, spring is more suitable.
Very often this fertilizer is used for digging, but a more suitable option would be to add ash to the recesses or grooves for seeds immediately before planting. In this case, the resulting soil mixture must be mixed thoroughly.
The required amount of ash is calculated based on the size of the land plot. When growing crops on an industrial scale, about 15 kg of fertilizer per year should be required per 1 hectare. For a simple small garden, 1-2 buckets will be enough.
Due to the fact that burnt wood does not contain chlorine, it can be used to feed crops such as strawberries, potatoes, grapes, currants and citrus fruits - for the full development of all these plants, the chlorine content in the soil is contraindicated.
For those who do not have enough time to separately care for each type of crop, a universal liquid fertilizer made from ash is suitable. To create it you don’t need much: 10 liters of water and 1 cup of wood ash. The ingredients must be mixed thoroughly and poured under the root of the plant. Such fertilizing can be periodically alternated with fertilizers from the droppings.
There is a practice of soaking seeds in water with ash before planting. To do this, add 2 tablespoons per 1 liter of liquid. ashes and leave for a day. After this, the mixture is filtered and the grains are placed there for 5-6 hours.
The product of burning wood can be used to enrich compost by sprinkling ash on each layer. This practice helps create excellent conditions in a pile of humus for the proliferation of the necessary microorganisms that replenish it with nutrients.
For different types of garden crops, there are certain standards for introducing ash into the soil:

Fertilizing cucumbers with ash should occur as follows: 1 handful of ash is poured directly into the seed hole;
the same is done for vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and blueberries;
It is better to fertilize currants in the spring, adding 1 cup of the product into a pre-dug hole and sprinkling a layer of earth on top;
when fertilizing strawberries and wild strawberries with ash, do this: scatter the ashes between the rows of bushes at the rate of 1 cup per 1 m², and then thoroughly loosen the soil;
you can do the same when feeding parsley, carrots, beets and radishes;
Potatoes are fertilized with ¼ cup of ash added to each hole before planting the tuber and mixed with soil.

When should you not use wood ash?

Before using ash as a fertilizer, you should be aware of the examples in which its use would be inappropriate or even harmful:

It is not advisable to combine wood ash with mineral fertilizers based on nitrogen and phosphorus.
Adding ash and humus to the soil at the same time will not give a good result. It is best to add compost before winter and use the burnt wood in the spring.
As mentioned above, ash helps reduce the acidity of the earth. Therefore, the use of this fertilizer for soil with a pH above 7 will give a negative result - an excessive increase in soil alkalinity.
Some crops, such as blueberries and rhododendron, are accustomed to growing in an acidic environment. Therefore, feeding them with ash is extremely undesirable.
When growing seedlings, fertilizing them with ash can be done only after the third leaves appear on the sprouts. The fact is that this product contains salts that are harmful to too young shoots.
The roots of the seedlings should also not have direct contact with wood ash, otherwise this will cause burns, illness, poor development and adaptation to the new place after transplantation. When fertilizing, do not forget to mix the fertilizer with the soil.
Ash is not suitable as a fertilizer for turnips and radishes, as these plants will not produce a normal harvest. Their root crops will become coarser and send out a flower arrow.

For more information about such fertilizer as wood ash, watch the video:

Since ancient times wood ash has always been used as fertilizer to increase soil fertility and pH levels, increase crop growth. After introducing it into the soil, the positive effect lasts for three years, or even four.

It contains many useful elements of natural origin, such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, boron, manganese. It is a pity that there is no nitrogen in it due to its volatilization during wood burning. Therefore, it is necessary to additionally feed plants with nitrogen fertilizers.

But in no case should they be added together with wood ash because of the ammonia release reaction, which is not very good for plants. It is also undesirable to add ash with mineral fertilizers and humus. It is best to add humus late in the fall, and add ash in the spring.

Wood ash can be stored for many years in a sealed container. Otherwise, when moisture gets inside, there will no longer be any useful substances in it. How to properly apply wood ash to the soil? We will deal with this issue now.

The amount of ash is calculated based on the size of the plot of land (per 1 hectare you need approximately 15 kg of ash). If you have clay or loamy soil, add ash in the fall. And if the soil is sandy or peaty - in the spring. Very often, ash is added when digging the ground, but we recommend adding it immediately before planting the seeds.

Wood ashes can be used to make liquid fertilizer. For 10 liters of water you need to take one glass of ash and mix.
This fertilizer is universal and should be applied directly to the roots of plants.
It will appeal to those summer residents who do not have time to separately care for each type of plant.

You can also soak the seeds in water with wood ash before planting the seeds in the soil (add 2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water). Then keep this mixture for a day, filter and soak the seeds in it for 6 hours.

Wood ash does not contain chlorine, so it can be added to the soil where grapes, currants, potatoes, and strawberries are planted. But where blueberries grow is not desirable due to the acidic soil environment. Also, ash should not be applied to turnips and radishes. Their roots will become rough and they will shoot out a flower arrow.

Wood ash is also added to the compost, making it richer in microorganisms and nutrients.
So, before adding wood ash to the soil of your site, you need to consider all the pros and cons of this wonderful fertilizer and its application line.

Wood ash is a universal fertilizer for all types of soil, and absolutely for all vegetable crops. It contains many valuable elements and important properties - it is not without reason that for a long time in Rus' they not only washed themselves with it, but also actively fertilized their beds. Take a closer look at this fertilizer that has been proven for thousands of years - you will be surprised! This article will tell you exactly how wood ash is used as fertilizer.

What is the value of ash?

Firstly, the soil deoxidizes thanks to the ash, which is especially favorable for peat soils, where there are few microelements, but the acidity is off the charts. Wood ash itself as a fertilizer has its own unique properties. So, herbaceous plants have more potassium than woody plants, but much less phosphorus, and the ash also contains magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, sulfur, and no nitrogen.

Due to its significant potassium content, wood ash is considered a potassium fertilizer. Moreover, there is more potassium in the ash of deciduous trees - 12-14%, less - in coniferous trees - 4-6%. And most of all, the ash from young trees is rich in nutrients, not from old ones. Thanks to potassium, plant stems become strong and resistant to lodging, they are filled with vitality, winter hardiness and distinctive resistance to disease. In addition, potassium slightly restrains the rapid growth of plants, which often occurs from excess nitrogen, and prevents premature ripening of fruits, which, in this case, contain too much phosphoric acid. Potassium also participates in photosynthesis, converting nutrients into starch, and in the formation of chlorophyll - greenery in stems and leaves.

And the most valuable advantage of ash is that it does not contain chlorine at all, and therefore is ideal for those plants that are sensitive to its excess - raspberries, currants, grapes, strawberries and blackberries. Ash is also a wonderful fertilizer for seedlings - you just need to add it to the substrate and mix well.

When do plants need this fertilizer?

If there is not enough potassium in the soil, you will immediately notice it by the plants themselves - the edges of the lower leaves turn yellow, then the leaves turn brown and look burnt. Additionally, mottling and yellow spots may appear on the lower ones. Have you noticed this? Urgently dilute the ash with water and feed the future harvest. But there is absolutely no nitrogen in the ash, although in total it contains up to 30 different microelements. It has practically no analogues among mineral fertilizers, and just one kilogram of wood ash can replace 240 g of potassium chloride, 220 g of granulated superphosphate and 500 g of lime. Just don’t fertilize your potatoes with ash every year - they may get scab due to the neutral soil!

Many gardeners also successfully soak seeds in an ash solution before sowing: dissolve 2 tablespoons in a liter of water, leave for 24 hours, strain and soak the seeds for 6 hours.

What type and composition should the ash be?

Not all ash from a furnace is suitable for fertilizing a garden or greenhouse - only wood ash. If you burned additional rubber, roofing felt, foam plastic or polyethylene in the furnace, such ash can no longer be used. Ash from coal is also not suitable - it also contains unnecessary elements. That is why experienced summer residents have long ago built themselves a special barrel stove for the site, where they throw dry branches, grass and peat, and nothing else in all this will ever burn. Just make such an iron barrel with air exhaust - so that the material burns well and the air around it does not smoke.

Wood ash can and should be used not only in powder form. So, coal ash as a fertilizer is wonderful for flowers. It should be added to the substrate for cacti, orchids, aroids and succulents - in pieces up to 1 cm in diameter. The substrate will immediately become loose and permeable to water. Coal is also a wonderful antiseptic that protects roots from rotting and heals plant wounds. But you shouldn’t take charcoal to the garden or greenhouse - it is neutral as a fertilizer for vegetables. It is better to make a fire out of it, and only carry the ashes to the site. And for sifting, make a sieve box with 0.5 cm cells - such as in the photo. After all, coal ash contains too many iron compounds, while there is very little calcium, phosphorus and potassium. There is simply no point in it as a fertilizer.

The ash from deciduous trees has the most calcium (30%), and the most phosphorus (7%) comes from coniferous trees. Another interesting point: ash from hardwood trees contains more potassium than ash from softwood trees.

What is absolutely forbidden to do?

But what you absolutely cannot do is mix ash with nitrogen mineral fertilizers, as well as with manure, bird droppings and superphosphate. The chemical reaction of such compounds is unfavorable, so add all these substances separately.

Also, wood ash should not be used to fertilize carbonate soil or any other soil that may have an alkaline reaction. Most of all, there is a need for such fertilizer on heavy and podzolic soils, since thanks to the lime it contains, it always reduces the acidity of the area.

Ash from trees that grew near highways, chemical plants and in disadvantaged areas is also not suitable as a fertilizer. Such ash contains many microelements that can saturate growing fruits with little good: lead, zinc, cadmium, cesium and strontium.

What can you mix ash with?

Wood ash can be mixed with urea (also called urea). Take 1 glass of ash and 1 tbsp. spoon of urea per 10 liters of water and beat until dissolved. After this, such fertilizer can be poured under the roots of the plants, while simultaneously mixing the solution. Try not to let the drops fall on the leaves - this is important. This is a “complete” feeding, which contains the three most important components - phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, plus calcium in the form of lime.

It is especially useful to alternate feeding with ash with infusions of mullein and bird droppings - for garlic and onions. But for eggplants and peppers during the period of fruiting and flowering, use an infusion of ash at 0.5 liters per meter with the obligatory placement in moist soil.

Wood ash is also added to the compost, because it has valuable alkaline properties and mineral composition. All this together creates a favorable environment for flora, while neutralizing harmful chemical compounds from rainwater. The fact is that organic materials always contain a lot of acids, and acidic material decomposes more slowly. Ash allows you to neutralize compost, and this is good for the site. After all, acidic compost releases a lot of ammonia, which, in turn, then harms earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms. But you shouldn’t neutralize ash compost if your soil is alkaline - then let there be a balance.

A mixture of ash infusion with herbal decoction is also good - it is indispensable in the fight against powdery mildew, black leg, cabbage clubroot and leaf spot. This medicine will also help against fleas, aphids, cutworms and wireworms. Simply treat the plants morning and evening.

Once upon a time, gardeners washed wood ash before use, and evaporated the resulting solution - only potassium and some salts remained. But ordinary, unwashed ash contains absolutely all the mineral elements that were in the tree during its life. Choose what is more convenient for you.

It is better to apply ash as fertilizer in the spring, when planting, because in autumn it is washed out of the topsoil. It cannot be mixed with ammonium nitrate, as some are trying to do - otherwise the nitrogen will come out of it in the form of ammonia and there will be none left for plants. If you still need to add both ash and saltpeter to the soil, then do it in turn. In the fall, you can also fertilize with ash, but it will be washed out, especially on sandy soils.

Here are the norms for applying ash as fertilizer: in the spring, about 500 g per square meter is added to the beds for tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, carrots, zucchini and cucumbers (but still be guided by the acidity of the soil), plus 2 tbsp. spoons into the holes for seedlings. But under the bushes, place the ash already mixed with soil, 1 kg per plant.

Here's how to properly apply ash to your plot: if your soil is loamy or clayey, then use ash in the fall, if the soil is peaty, sandy or sandy loam, then in the spring. According to the rules, this fertilizer must be applied before digging, or directly into the holes right before planting. In total, per 100 square meters of land you should need from 12 to 15 kg of ash. By the way, in one tablespoon there are 6 g of ash, in a glass - 100 g, in a half-liter jar - 250 g, and in a liter jar - 500 g.

To feed already growing vegetables, use wood ash in the following proportions:

For zucchini, squash and cucumbers - a glass for each square meter before watering.
For peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and eggplants - a handful of ash per hole.
For strawberries and currants in the spring - a glass per square meter with embedding in the soil.
For carrots, radishes, parsley and beets - a glass for the same meter.
When planting potatoes, use two matchboxes per tuber, mixing the ash with the soil.

You can also prepare a universal fertilizer for any crops: dilute 1 glass of wood ash in 10 liters of water. If you scatter dry ash on the site, then water it later - otherwise the wind will carry it away.

It is good to store ash in plastic bags, in a dark, dry place, because... due to moisture, it immediately leads to potassium loss. In addition, almost all the elements in wood ash are easily soluble - so never store it in the open air. Just add it directly to the beds, or to the compost heap, or hide it indoors.

Wood ash has been used since ancient times as an organic fertilizer. This is a valuable source of potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium, as well as other beneficial substances necessary for the growth and development of plants.

How is wood ash useful for the garden? What is its composition? How to use it? We will try to answer these and many other questions in the article.

Ash composition

It is quite difficult to accurately determine the composition of this natural substance, since it varies depending on the age and type of plant that was burned. Nevertheless, D.I. Mendeleev presented a general formula for ash, which indicates the percentage of elements contained in 100 grams of this fertilizer.

Ash formula

The properties of wood ash are determined by its chemical composition, which includes many different microelements. Some of them have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of plants, others help in the fight against various diseases. The concentration of these components may be higher or lower than shown. However, the list below gives a general idea of what substances and in what proportions are contained in ash:

calcium silicate (CaSiO3) - 16.5%;
calcium carbonate (CaCO3) - 17%;
calcium chloride (CaCl2) - 12%;
calcium sulfate (CaSO4) - 14%;
magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) - 4%;
potassium orthophosphate (K3PO4) - 13%;
(MgSO4) - 4%;
magnesium silicate (MgSiO3) - 4%;
sodium chloride (NaCl) - 0.5%;
sodium orthophosphate (NaPO4) - 15%.

Gardeners successfully use wood ash as a source of lime and potassium. The word "potash" comes from the expression pot ashes ("ashes from the cauldron") and has English roots. This name is explained by the ancient method of making this fertilizer. Previously, the ash was washed and then the resulting solution was evaporated. The resulting precipitate contained potassium carbonate and other salts.

All the mineral elements that were in the plant are contained in unwashed wood ash. The use of this substance in the garden helps saturate the soil with potassium, which strengthens the stems of plants and makes them more stable. In addition, potassium significantly increases the vitality of the plant and increases its resistance to disease.

The use of wood ash in the garden allows you to restrain excessive plant growth, which is caused by excess nitrogen, and prevent fruits from ripening too early, which is usually provoked by phosphoric acid. Potassium is actively involved in photosynthesis and in the formation of green pigment in stems and leaves.

Ash from contains significantly more potassium than fertilizer from soft rocks. There is a misconception that it is more caustic and can harm the plant. In fact, both ash are suitable for adding to the soil in flower beds, orchards and vegetable gardens.

The prepared ash can be stored in a dry place for later use or immediately added to the beds or compost heap. It is better to store it in paper bags. If you have confirmed that the soil on your site is too acidic, add ash in the fall, winter and early spring. Fertilizer is used at the rate of 2.5 kg per 10 m 2.

Potassium deficiency

The fact that there is not enough potassium in the soil is indicated by a change in the appearance of plant leaves. Since potassium moves upward from the lower leaves, if there is insufficient amount of potassium, the edges of the lower leaves first turn yellow, then acquire a brown tint. In addition, mottling or yellow spots appear on the lower leaves.

How often should ash be added?

Wood ash deoxidizes the soil. It is twice as effective as limestone, which is often used to neutralize overly acidic soils. However, this does not mean that this fertilizer must be used every year. Moreover, agronomists do not recommend adding it to the soil without first checking the acidity of the soil.

It is advisable to carry out soil analysis once every two years. Quite a lot of plants grow well in slightly acidic soils, so the use of ash in large quantities is allowed only for very acidic soils.

You can do a simple soil acidity test yourself. To do this, you need to take a soil sample, moisten it with a small amount of rain, deionized or distilled water and dip litmus paper into the soil mixture. Its color will immediately change. All that remains is to compare it with the color chart that comes with each set of litmus paper.

Ash use

Today, many vegetable growers use wood ash. Application in the garden involves adding it to a compost heap, in which organic materials contain a large amount of various acids.

Excessively acidic compost heap material decomposes more slowly. The introduced ash effectively neutralizes this environment. If this is not done, the compost will release a lot of ammonia, which can harm and even kill earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms living there.

Ash should be scattered on every layer of soil, mowed lawn grass, and food waste. By combining organic material and ash, the compost is enriched with a variety of beneficial organisms that aid in decomposition. Experts recommend scattering about a kilogram of ash per 1 square meter of compost.

Wood ash is a real storehouse of nutrients for all plants. You need to know that in regions with a humid climate, the soil on lawns, gardens and orchards gradually acidifies, and wood ash will help neutralize it. Using such organic fertilizer in your garden will help increase the yield on your plot.

Ash as a fertilizer: how to use?

It can be used dry or dissolved. Wood ash solution is a source of minerals. It is often used instead of water when soaking seeds to speed up their germination. Vegetable seeds are kept in this solution for about six hours, then dried and planted in the ground.

To prepare such a composition, you need to pour two tablespoons of ash into a liter of water and leave for two days, then you can strain it. This solution can be used to feed indoor plants and seedlings. Heavy clay soils in your lawn, garden or garden can be lightened by adding wood ash. When saturated with water, clay soil sticks together, forming lumps. Add wood ash to it at the rate of 5 kg per 10 m2, and the soil will become looser.

Effective for roses and fruit bushes. How to use it in this case? Dry powder should be scattered in spring and autumn. For roses you need to add about 500 grams of ash under the bush. During precipitation and watering, nutrients from the fertilizer enter the root system of plants.

Wood ash from hardwood is also useful for the lawn. It contains the same amount of lime as ground limestone, which is necessary to improve the appearance of most lawn grasses. Most lawn grasses develop more actively on soils with almost neutral acidity (pH from 6 to 7). With this indicator, the nutrients in the soil become more accessible to plants and are more easily absorbed by the root system.

Lawn grasses that have received a large portion of wood ash are more aggressive than those growing in acidic soil, so they do not allow weeds into their immediate environment.

Ash as fertilizer for strawberries

Juicy, aromatic and sweet strawberries are grown all over the world, in a wide variety of soils, in different weather and climate conditions. According to agronomists, a good strawberry harvest cannot be obtained without fertilizing. But every gardener, having heard about fertilizers, thinks about how harmful they can be to health. In this regard, many use traditional methods and organic preparations, one of which is wood ash.

How to use it to fertilize your favorite berry bushes? Strawberries are fed either with an infusion of ash or with a dry variety, bringing it under the bushes in early spring. This feeding increases the number of flower stalks and, accordingly, berries. Ash is usually added to the holes when creating a new strawberry bed. A special feature of this fertilizer is its long-lasting effect. It retains its beneficial properties for two years after application to the soil.

Ash solution

A solution is most often used to fertilize strawberries. To do this, pour a glass of ash into a bucket of water, mix the solution well before use so that the ash is evenly distributed, and water the soil. This composition does not contain nitrogen, since it disappears when wood is burned. But experts do not recommend adding it with it.

When should you not use ash?

Excessive use of fertilizers (including organic ones) leads to no less negative consequences than their complete absence. Wood ash as a fertilizer must be completely eliminated in areas with high soil acidity.

An increased pH is indicated by external changes in plants. With excess calcium the following are observed:

Excessive growth of leaf rosettes in apple and grape trees.
Dying along the entire length of tomato shoots.
Falling leaves of garden flowers.
Chlorosis with the appearance of whitish spots in roses.
Change in leaf pigmentation (they turn white).

With excess potassium:

The flesh of pears and apples turns brown.
The bitter pitting of the fruit appears.
Falling leaves of plants.

Advantages of fertilizer

A wonderful fertilizer of organic origin is wood ash. Using dry matter or solution in the garden will not harm the health of your loved ones. This is the main argument in favor of choosing ash for feeding plants. Ash fertilizers are very effective when used correctly. They help not only increase the yield of vegetables, fruits and berries, but also significantly save on the purchase of ready-made compounds. It’s easy to make the ash yourself.

Many people have heard about what wood ash is and what its beneficial properties are from relatives or neighbors in their summer cottage. Some people pour it into the garden after each cleaning of the stove or add it to flower pots, but you need to be more careful with this fertilizer: without certain knowledge, you shouldn’t scatter it randomly everywhere, otherwise you will end up causing serious harm to the plants instead of doing any good.

It is known that ash is the non-combustible residue of combustion products: what remains after a fire, in a stove or fireplace, when burning branches and leaves, etc. Tops, grass, leaves and stems folded into a compost heap will eventually provide excellent organic fertilizer, and the ash obtained as a result of burning the same material will bring its own huge advantage, because it is also a valuable microfertilizer for cultivated plants. Therefore, you should not throw all the garbage from the garden over the fence or put it away solely to rot.

Ash is not only an excellent source of minerals, it also:

improves the properties of acidic soils;
helps earth microorganisms quickly convert organic matter into useful elements for plants;
accelerates the growth of seedlings;
effectively fights insect pests and various diseases.

Using ash powder in the garden is more necessary than just possible. But not just any one. When you burn household waste, painted boards with varnish, newspapers and magazines with bright pictures, etc., you get very harmful ash containing dangerous chemical compounds that will kill plants.

It’s interesting that when you burn natural, harmless residues: tops, branches, grass, you get completely different ash, differing in the composition of microelements. For example, wood ash from soft species (aspen, linden, alder, pine, spruce) contains more calcium than hard species (oak, poplar, elm, larch, ash). Young wood, stems of sunflowers, buckwheat, and wheatgrass roots are leaders in the amount of potassium, unlike old trees.

After burning plant material, not only calcium and potassium turn into ash, but all the positive elements (except nitrogen) contained in the burning raw material: silicon, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sulfur, manganese and a huge list of vital and useful elements. Each of them plays an invaluable role in the growth and development of plants: they help absorb vitamins, increase resistance to diseases and weather changes, regulate water balance, and significantly improve soil uniformity.

Some know ash exclusively as a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, where phosphorus helps sprouts grow quickly and develop normally throughout the entire period, and potassium is responsible for the immunity of crops. However, the correct development of the root system, for which calcium is responsible, is also important. The ash of burnt peat bogs is rich in calcium, which ensures optimal development of the root system.

The great advantage of ash is the complete absence of chlorine in its composition, to which many gardening plants react negatively. But potash (K2O) mixed with ash is an ideal fertilizer for everyone. Potash in ash is formed by burning sunflower stems and Jerusalem artichoke tops.

As a fertilizer for plants, you need to prepare an ash solution p: 150 g of ash is dissolved in a 10-liter bucket of water and the finished suspension is immediately poured into the grooves or holes where the plants will be planted, then the areas need to be sprinkled with a layer of earth. The prepared solution should not be stored, as the beneficial properties will soon disappear - a fresh solution must be prepared for each procedure.

When planting seedlings of peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants and cabbage, it is necessary to pour 50 ml of ash solution under each plant.

Spraying with an ash-soap solution is necessary to destroy harmful insects and diseases, as well as as a preventive measure. It is prepared like this: 300 g of powder in a small amount of water should boil for 30 minutes, and when the broth has settled, filter it and add water to make 10 liters. Many people add any soap for better adhesion - 40 g will be enough. Evening, windless weather is ideal for spraying. Process no more than 3 times a month.

The formula for preparing a universal ash solution for all crops requires certain knowledge: in 1 tsp. - 2 g of ash in 1 tbsp. l. - 6 g, in 1 matchbox - 10 g of powder, in 1 glass - 100 g, in a liter jar - 500 g of ash.

What do plants need?

Fly ash, as it turned out, has three predominant useful components: potassium, calcium and magnesium. The use of ash is justified only by the lack of these substances in the soil:

leaves and fruits are deformed and covered with spots, flowers and buds fall off, the upper part of the shoots dies, the plant stops growing - there is not enough calcium;
the leaves curl, dry out at the edges and wither, the smell of roses disappears - lack of magnesium.

Excess elements:

the leaves become pale green and then completely fall off, the flesh of apples and pears turns brown - a lot of potassium;
leaves also fall, shoots die, chlorosis is noticed - excess calcium;
the roots die off, which makes it difficult to absorb calcium - excess magnesium.

Before adding ash powder, you need to carefully examine the plants and find out whether they really lack useful ash microelements or, on the contrary, their excess is noticeable.

Application for garden crops

Ash is a fertilizer that is used to alkalize acidic soils before plowing, as well as when planting seedlings and tubers, and while feeding grown plants. Root feeding is carried out together with watering.

In addition, you can soak any seeds in an ash infusion to stimulate growth before planting. For infusion, take 3 tbsp. l. ash, dissolve in 1 liter of water and leave for a week, periodically shaking the jar to ensure uniform dissolution. The solution is filtered and diluted with water 1 to 3 before use.

Ash powder is used to pollinate potatoes before planting.(1 kg for approximately 30-40 kg of tubers), sprinkle on fleshy sections of flowers when dividing, scatter under vegetable crops to protect against pests, dust plants damaged by diseases.

The effectiveness of ash when added to the soil does not go away within 3 years.

Ash powder will protect cabbage from black leg and clubroot. It is useful for cucumbers, zucchini and squash: 1 tbsp. l. powder is added to the hole when planting crops or 1 cup per square meter. m during digging.

When planting eggplants, tomatoes and sweet peppers, add 3 tbsp. l. ash into the holes and mixed with soil or added when digging 3 cups per square meter. m.

The powder has a beneficial effect on plums and cherries: the fertilizer is added to the planting holes and the tree trunks are pollinated with it. It is also useful to feed with ash once every 3 years: dig a groove no more than 15 cm deep along the perimeter of the tree crown, pour ash into it or pour in a solution (dissolving 2 glasses in 10 liters of water). The ditch is covered with earth. In general, an adult tree requires about 2 kg of ash powder.

It is enough to add 3 cups of ash under the currant bush. For tomatoes, cabbage and cucumbers, 500 ml of solution per bush is enough. In areas for root vegetables and greens (beets, carrots, radishes, lettuce, parsley, dill, etc.), add 1 cup of ash per 1 square meter before planting. m. The grapes are fed no more than 4 times during the summer, spraying the leaves with an ash solution in the evening. For strawberries you will need 1 cup of powder per 1 square meter. m before flowering begins.

Ashes are used all year round:

in the spring, they are added to the soil for digging and when planting seedlings;
fertilizing with ash in the fall - also before cultivating the site or simply scattering it on the ground;
In summer, a universal fertilizer is made from the ashes;
in winter they are scattered over snowdrifts to speed up the melting of snow.

Combining it with humus or peat gives excellent results. By adding ashes to the compost pit, waste will decompose much faster. Even more effective is to sprinkle the ash layer by layer, which will provide a super-useful unique fertilizer for the next season, suitable for all crops.

However, you should not mix ash with manure, ammonium nitrate or bird droppings, in this case there will be a loss of nitrogen and the plants will grow very slowly.

Use in insect control

A few tips on using ash as a protector obviously won't hurt anyone. For example, few people know that scattering ashes around plants in the evening can protect them from slugs and snails. And the most popular method - dusting crops from seedlings to full-size ones - will help rid them of various pests and diseases for a long time. Pollination is also foliar feeding.

It is enough to sprinkle ashes on strawberries after flowering to protect them from gray rot (10 g per bush).

It is better to do the treatment early in the morning until the dew has dried, but you can also moisten the crops yourself before pollination.

In order to prevent bacterial and fungal diseases, plants are dusted with a mixture of ash, charcoal and calcined sand in equal proportions.

Spraying the plant with an ash-soap solution is effective. Treatment is carried out up to 3 times a month.

Always store ash in a dry room in a fabric bag or other container, because water removes all useful elements from the powder and thereby reduces the value of the fertilizer.

Different soils have their own ash

Sandy, swampy and soddy-podzolic soils require the addition of ash in the spring at a rate of 100 g per 1 m² - this will fully compensate for the lack of boron in plants.

Straw and wood ash are suitable for all types of soil, except saline soil. Alkaline fertilizer will be especially useful for soils depleted of microelements, in particular potassium and phosphorus, as it enriches and improves the soil structure, actively reducing acidity, which has a positive effect on yields for many years. Peat ash (half a kilogram per meter) will help neutralize acidity.

Is it possible to fertilize indoor plants?

Fertilizing with ash infusion is very important for indoor flowers.: 3 tbsp. l. environmentally friendly powder is dissolved in 1 liter of water and left for a week, shaking occasionally. Before use, the strained solution is diluted with water 1 to 3 and the plants are watered: 100 ml - per 1 liter pot.

It is already known that wood ash as a fertilizer for indoor plants helps in the fight against small pests. Dusting the flowers or spraying with a solution helps (after spraying, you need to hide the plants from the sun for 5 days).

Garden roses love ash fertilizers most of all. They can also be watered with an ash solution (100 g of ash is dissolved in 10 liters of water) and the leaves are sprayed (200 g of ash are dissolved in 10 liters of water).

Fly ash is also perfect for peonies, gladioli, clematis and lilies. The same infusion is used for indoor flowers. It will be useful to add 10 g of ash to each hole when planting plants.

When not to use fertilizer

Ash harms plants that prefer acidic soil (hydrangea, rhododendron, blueberries, cranberries, azalea, heather, etc.).

It also cannot be used when nitrogen-containing fertilizers (manure, bird droppings, ammonium nitrate, urea) have been previously applied, because nitrogen eliminates almost all the beneficial properties of ash.

If the soil contains a lot of alkali, the ashes are also prohibited for use as fertilizer.

What can be replaced

With acidified soil in the country and no ash on hand You can use alternative options: fluff lime or dolomite flour. Flour is added in the amount of half a kilo per 1 square meter. m in acidic soils and 100 g less in moderately acidic soils; lime is also half a kilogram per 1 sq. m with acidic soil and 200 g less with medium acidic soil.

Ash is not just a universal fertilizer. When used correctly, you can achieve amazing results: the plants will look gorgeous, the harvest will delight you with large healthy fruits and a complete absence of pests and infections.

It is important to note that ash powder is a non-chemical, absolutely pure and safe product, tested and used by grandfathers and great-grandfathers from time immemorial. Plus it's free!

Have a wonderful harvest everyone!