We live in a world where recycling and environmentally friendly actions certainly speak louder than words. Over the last few months we have seen a number of negative articles regarding wood-burning stoves which often contain misleading information. So, we thought it might be refreshing to take a look at the practical uses for wood ash. You will be surprised how useful it can be!
Garden fertiliser
There are occasions where wood ash can be used as an element in garden fertiliser where it will increase the pH level of the soil. The useful component in this scenario is the trace minerals from tree wood which are extremely useful for plant health.
Compost heaps
Many gardeners swear by the use of wood ash in their compost as a means of boosting nutrients and encouraging worms and other visitors. Bizarrely, some people suggest that wood ash on a compost heap will stop large animals from digging. How many bears do you find in Manchester? Should they not be in the woods?
Controlling algae
One very interesting use of wood ash is to control pond algae which can decimate plant life and suffocate fish stocks. Many people believe that the potassium in wood ash encourages rooted aquatic plants to grow, become stronger and fight off the deadly impact of algae.
Protecting plants from frost
Did you know that sprinkling wood ash onto your plants prior to cold frosty evenings can prevent damage? The mineral salts in the wood ash lower the freezing point of water and thereby reduce the damage caused by frost. Fascinating!
Reducing soil acidity
As we touched on above, sprinkling wood ash on soil will lift the pH level thereby reducing the acidity. The vast majority of garden vegetables grow best in soil with relatively high pH levels as opposed to acidity. However, potatoes are different!
Slug barriers
Did you know that sprinkling wood ash around your crops and plant beds will actually stop slugs and snails from crawling over to damage your plants? It seems that they do not like the feel of wood ash but there is one major downside, once the ash gets wet the barrier is broken….
Non-toxic ant repellent
One of the more bizarre uses of wood ash we have come across is acting as an ant repellent. Apparently, according to informed sources, sprinkling wood ash on an ant’s nest won’t kill them but it will encourage them to move elsewhere. We are not quite sure how or why!
Melting ice
Were you aware that the minerals in wood ash act in a similar fashion to salt and will melt ice. This can be especially useful on pathways and driveways but it can cause a little havoc once it is wet and trampled through your nice clean home.
Tackling oil spills
Have you dropped some oil on your driveway? Perhaps your car has been leaking onto the road? Well apparently the sprinkling of wood ash, left overnight, will result in the oil being soaked up and the wood ash can then be swept away.
Cleaning your wood-burning stove glass
While there are fancy glass cleaners, different materials you can use and different procedures, many people swear by a good old-fashioned wet newspaper dipped in cool ash. It would appear that the ash is relatively smooth and able to remove stains and discolouring from the glass in your stove door.
Cleaning shiny ornaments
Many people also swear by a mixture of wood ash and water to create a paste which will return the shine to silver, pewter and other metals. As we have seen when using wood ash to clean glass in stove doors, it is relatively non-abrasive but will remove dirt.
Absorbing smells
As we dig deeper, there are some weird and wonderful ways in which wood ash can be used in and around the home. Did you know that a simple jar of wood ash, perhaps complemented by a piece of charcoal, will absorb smells and odours around the home? But where would you place it?
A natural antiseptic
While one that you would need to research yourself, it seems that some people use wood ash as a natural antiseptic used to speed up the healing of wounds. As we are not doctors, there is not an awful lot more than we can add to this alleged use!
Killing a fire
It is rather ironic that wood ash, created as a consequence of fire, is used by some people to kill campfires and ensure that they do not reignite. It is said that by burying a campfire in ashes this will smother the flames and kill the fire. It does make sense; the layer of wood ash would starve the fire of oxygen, the main fuel for fire, and slowly suffocate it.
Wood ash cement
While I am not sure that I would want my home built from wood ash cement, some people use wood ash mixed with terracotta to create a very primitive type of cement. Thankfully, we can just jump in the car and go down to our nearest store when we need cement.
Final word
Well, it is time to bid farewell to the world of wood ash with many more different uses found for what is essentially a waste product. So, there is no excuse for not recycling and being extra friendly to the environment. Also, don’t forget, if you see bears circling your house, a sprinkling of wood ash might put them off!