Gauteng Smallholder Gauteng Smallholder August 2017 | Page 33

IN THE GARDEN
How to use your winter woodfire ash
I
f you, like many
smallholders, are lucky
enough to be able to heat
your home in winter with a
roaring log fire, you may
wonder what you can do to
dispose of the cold grey ash
in the morning.
Wood ash is primarily
composed of calcium,
potassium, phosphorus and
magnesium, but also contains
trace amounts of iron,
manganese, sodium, boron,
zinc, copper and molybde-
num. Because it i s created
through the combustion of
plant material, it holds many
of the elements needed to
support new growth and has
long been used by gardeners
and farmers as a natural soil
amendment.
Not for nothing is the old-
fashioned word for potassium
“potash”, and if you know
your three main fertilizer
components, namely N, P &
K, you will know that K is the
identifier of the element
potassium.
Before you begin using wood
ashes, however, there are a
few things that you should
bear in mind. Only use ashes
from wood that is free of
chemicals. Do not use ash
from pressure-treated wood,
painted or stained wood,
coal, charcoal or briquettes.
Although ashes may feel cool
to the touch, buried embers
can remain hot for days. To
safely store wood ash, place
them in a metal container
with a lid and set it on a non-
combustible surface such as
sand or concrete. Make sure
the container is isolated and
at least a few feet away from
any flammable materials.
But it is not only as a plant
nutrient that ash is useful. Ash
has some surprising uses
around the house. If you have
wet paint spatters on cement,
sprinkle ash directly on the
spot and it blends in if rubbed
around with your foot. It can
also be used to clean up
grease spills and remove
stains from porous surfaces
such as stone, cement and
tar. Sprinkle some ashes on
the stain and allow it to settle
for a few minutes. Then,
sweep it all up with a broom.
Block garden pests by
spreading ash evenly around
garden beds, particularly in
the fight against slugs and
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