Bon Fire Ashes?

Question

We have a compost bin, can we put our ashes into it? Or directly onto a garden? Or is it best to throw them out? Any other ideas?

Answer 1

Ashes are great for the gardens. There acidity keeps the horrible plant deseases that habit our soils and attack our plants at bay. Especially good around roses and fruit trees.

You can put them in a composter provided it is compostable materials. No plastics or metals

Answer 2

Much would depend on what you were burning and was it completely turned to ash.

If you've only burnt organic materials, you can either compost the ash or dig it into your soil. It's a good fertiliser. If not completely burned riddle the ash and keep the charcoal for the next fire.

If you have been burning contaminated wood, (paint, tanalin, etc), or household wastes containing plastic and such like, put it in the bin, it isn't safe.

Answer 3

It would be  a great addition to a compost bin as it contains a lot of potash which plants need. Would not overwhelm the other minerals by adding too much but some would be great...

Answer 4

Bonfire ashes are quite alkali when they are fresh. You can put them on the garden but spread them around. They will not be suitable for the compost heap.