Is it a good or bad idea to put the ashes from your fireplace into your flower beds?

Ashes have lye in them. Lye is acidic. Depending on what pH your soil is already, ashes can be a good thing. Or a bad thing. Have you had your soil tested to see what is contains? You can usually take samples to the Extension Office in your county and they will test it for a nominal fee. Then you will know better what to add. If you add ashes anyway, you might kill all your plants. Or render it so acidic that none will grow. :)





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Is it a good or bad idea to put the ashes from your fireplace into your flower beds?
Sorry, but ashes are BASIC or ALKALINE not acidic. Report It

Reply:Ashes are excellent additives for Lilac bushes, they need this Report It

Reply:Yeah, um, you should probably know that Lye is a strong base and is not at all acidic. I'm sorry, but you chose a very bad answer. The answer given by Cat is by far the best one. Please take her advice. Report It

Reply:the answer is otherwise well informed ,but for the acidity of lye . Report It

Reply:Last winter, I put fireplace ashes in part of my garden and in the spring, planted strawberries. The plants did fine in all the areas except where I had mixed in ashes. Not sure why but I do know that rotting wood removes nitrogen from the soil. I'm guessing that even in the ashes, there is some decomposition going on that is taking nitrogen out of the soil.
Reply:yes its good , as well as egg shells and sea shells
Reply:It is ok as long as its not over done. Too much can have a bad affect. Too much depends upon how acid the soil already is, how much water is applied and what flowers are planted.
Reply:That don't sound right to me.
Reply:good the ash contains potash which is good for the soil
Reply:It might be better to add them to your compost rather than directly on the ground. Also, ashes will increase the PH of your soil - so if your soil is already alkaline, don't do it. Or just avoid adding it where you have plants that love a more acidic soil.





An excellent use for ashes (though it won't use up much) is to sprinkle it in a ring around your newly planted seedlings. Cutworms and slugs will NOT cross the ash line.
Reply:You can put some in your flower beds however I would use caution to how much you use and how often. The ashes from the wood have lime deposits which are good for the soil however you don't want to overdue. If you like to make your own earth then add some of your ashes there too.