Allotments 4 All

I recently moved into a new house (new for me that is) and it's got solid fuel central heating.   At the moment I've been letting the ashes cool then putting them in my dustbin but I had a thought.

My plot soil is on the clay side of loam & I wondered if digging cold ashes in would lighten the soil & improve drainage.   I could soon get hold of a brewers bucket to hold the ashes in until they're ready for transport.

What does anybody think???  Anybody any other suggestions?????

Cheers

CC

When I was little, we visited family who lived in the country, and they had ash paths everywhere. I recall never seeing weeds (or anything) growing on these paths ...

This is what we did when I was in Cornwall. Just sling it on the paths. Alternatively, you can dig it in.

I have helped out in several urban back gardens since moving to derby and some of the best soils were clearly a mixture of the basic red marl and fire ashes.
;D

If it's wood ash, it will be great for garden or paths. Not sure about coal/coke ash.
But it would make great paths:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,15610.0
:)

Wood ash is great for fertiliser. Coal or coke ash is longer-lasting and will improve soil texture. It must often contain poisons, but they must wash out pretty quickly since we used it like mad in Cornwall, and I don't remember it harming anything at all.