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WE recenlty burnt all of the old wood ect in our back garden, there is a lot of ash left over, is this alright to add some of it to my compost bin

That depends what "etc" means.

If it was just wood, it is fine to scatter the ashes in the compost. It reduces the acidity..........a bit like putting lime on the growing beds.

If it is wood it is fine.

Layer it.I miss it as we can not have bonfires anymore on our site. :(

Wood Ashes: About the only generally-available organic source for potash fertilizer, this material is treasured by organic gardeners. Wood ashes contain about 6 per cent potash, plus considerable lime. Before corn cobs were used industrially, the cobs were burned in huge piles. The resultant ashes were peculiarly rich in potash - up to 35 per cent. Almost any ash resulting from burning organic materials that contain some fiber should be a fair source of potash fertilizer. Wood ashes are particularly good to use for adding potash to a compost heap

Don't let them get wet.

you're lucky, we had a bonfire of just ordinary wood, one of the guys decided to put painted wood, plastic bags and even polystyrene on it  :o

You can also dig it in.  Runner beans like it.  Do not leave any on the surface, it dries up and blows all over the place.  Presume that if corn is high in potash it also would like some.

Where I have fires on my plot,  I just rake the ashes and then dig it into the soil.  I keep the same burn area for one year,  then move to another part of the plot the next.

Saved me asking the same question Caseylee, I've put some in the compost but thought the rest could go to a better use.   ???     :-\       ;D ;D ;D

Quoteone of the guys decided to put painted wood, plastic bags and even polystyrene on it

What is it with some people??! Have been camping with friends who have brought along painted/veneered wood for disposal on the campfire, and they wondered why I retired to my tent like a party pooper. My sister gets rid of disposable nappies and plastic food cartons in the wood burner in their living room and they chuck the ash on the garden.. aint no telling her though.

Top tip.. if any of the wood has nails in it, get one of those magnets on a telescopic stick, and go through the ash thoroughly before you put it on the garden/heap.

Just a note of caution.  If there is a lot of ash from real wood (other than weeds and brush etc) keep a careful eye on your pH level, and don`t let it get anywhere near your prize rhododendrons, azaleas etc.

Fred Loads said you can't put too much ash around Gooseberries - it works for mine - also I've been putting it in compost for years and nothing has blown up.  Yet

It wasn't treated softwood you burnt was it?

Quote from: Kepouros on June 15, 2009, 22:09:41
Just a note of caution     keep a careful eye on your pH level, and don`t let it get anywhere near your prize rhododendrons, azaleas etc.

Very good point Kepouros

As regards potassium, seaweed is a fine source without the dangers of raising the pH too high, although I can see that many people cannot get hold of it without a long drive.