Wood ash can be very useful for lots of little things around the house! Put the remains in your fireplace to good use with these tips!
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Because wood ash is primarily created through the combustion of plant materials, it also holds many of the elements needed to support new growth and has long been used to enrich soil by farmers and gardeners. It also has other uses around the home!
Neutralize Acidic Soil
Unless you're growing acid-loving plants like peppers or azaleas, you should keep your soil's pH between 6 and 7.5 in your garden beds. This range allows nutrients in fertilizer to be easily dissolved in water and better absorbed by the plant's roots. Wood ash can be used as a substitute for lime and bring your soil to a balanced pH.
Drive Away Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails can wreak havoc on your plants in almost no time at all. Wood ash works as a natural deterrent. Sprinkle it evenly around individual plants or along the perimeter of your whole garden plot. Try to avoid direct contact with your plants while applying, and be sure to reapply after each rainfall.
Make Ash Tea
Ash tea can be brewed to prevent or correct potassium deficiencies in your yard. Brown spots, curling leaf tips, yellowing between veins, slower plant growth, and reduced crop are all signs of potassium deficiency. To make tea from wood ash, place five pounds of ash in a cloth bag and tie it closed. Place the bag in a 50-gallon garbage bin filled with water and allow it to steep for several days. Once the ash tea is brewed, pour about a cup's worth on your plants once a week.
Make Soap
The first soaps from ancient Babylon utilized a mixture of animal fats and wood ash. When ashes from hardwoods are boiled in soft water, lye is created. When lye is mixed with animal fats or vegetable oils, it creates a soft soap. To make a firmer soap, add a little salt to the mix.
Melt Ice and Snow
The use of rock salt has actually led to some serious pollution. While rock salt is somewhat effective in reducing accidents, it also increases the salinity of fresh bodies of water and is incredible toxic to plants and animals. Wood ash is a safe and and natural alternative for de-icing and melting snow. It contains potash, a type of salt that is much more eco-friendly than rock salt. And unlike rock salt, ash won't corrode concert or metal, harm your furry friend's paws, or damage your plants.
Absorb Odors
Much like baking soda, wood ash is alkaline and can absorb and neutralize bad smells. Place some ash in a small bowl and leave it in a fridge or smelly room. Replace the ashes every few days.
Now that you know what to do with those pesky leftover ashes, are you ready to update your fireplace? Lehrer Fireplace and Patio can help you find the perfect fireplace for your home!
