You want to be careful with applying wood ash, as it turns soil alkaline. First, do a simple pH test on your soil. Kits are available at garden centers and big boxes. If your soil is 7.0 or above, don't use ashes on anything other than fruit trees and lilacs. See my blog next week for details. If the pH is low, apply a scant scattering of ash over flower beds. You can do it this time of year, scattering on top of the snow.
You want to be careful with applying wood ash, as it turns soil alkaline. First, do a simple pH test on your soil. Kits are available at garden centers and big boxes. If your soil is 7.0 or above, don't use ashes on anything other than fruit trees and lilacs. See my blog next week for details. If the pH is low, apply a scant scattering of ash over flower beds. You can do it this time of year, scattering on top of the snow.