Wood Ash Super Grass
In the Spring, my partner-in-crime burned a small pile of brush in the middle of our “dirt circle”. Since then, we’ve been trying to turn our dirt circle into a drought-tolerant lawn. As soon as the grass started to come in, we noticed a distinct lush green spot in the middle right where we had the burn. The wood ash-fed grass is much longer, thicker, and greener than everywhere else.
the super grass circle
In the past, I’d read mixed reviews about using wood ash as a fertilizer (because it tends to raise the PH of the soil making it more alkaline). And different plants have different PH requirements, etc., etc. But, if you’re trying to grow a new lawn (or any alkaline-loving vegetation), and you use a wood stove or fireplace, save your ash. Grasses, and many other plants & veggies prefer a slightly alkaline environment (6.5-7), and a handful of free ash goes a long way. For more detailed info on using wood ash, check out this Purdue U. article.
P.S. I wouldn’t recommend burning brush in your yard. It’s not enviro-friendly, could start a fire, and I wasn’t happy about it when I found the burn pile in progress. But, if you are using a wood stove or fireplace already, why not recycle your ash in the garden?
