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what is the diffrence

• Message 1. 

  Posted by thinlittleme (U8176781) on Monday, 12th December 2011

  could someone tell me what is the diffrence between potash and wood ash.
  
  I have a wood burner and have a dustbin full of very fine wood ash and i was going to put it onto my fruit trees in spring, Then someone said that they wanted potash. could someone explain please.
  
  Thank you Sue

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Monday, 12th December 2011

  Wood ash contains potash (potassium carbonate). It will be fine scattered around your fruit trees. The rain will wash it in.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by thinlittleme (U8176781) on Wednesday, 14th December 2011

  thank you for your reply
  
  this has put my mind at rest.
  only because i have used wood ash in the past, can i put it onto other things aswell, like my veg and flowers.and when is the best time.
  Thank you
  Regards Sue

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Wednesday, 14th December 2011

  Sue, sorry to argue with the last poster but wood ash contains very small proportions of Potash.
  If you reach a high heat to reduce the ash it will be mainly Calcium Carbinate which is basically lime or Soda Ash once used in soaps. it also contains Phosphate and trace elements including some heavy metals.
  None of this will kill your tree but you do need a Potash which is in all Garden Centres.
  We had a brick container for storing ash outside to let it weather, the rain washes out some of the trace elements then it was mixed in when the vegetable patch was dug over, cabbages and other green vegetables like some lime, we would let it lay for six months to a year before using, the soot went into the container as well.
  Some experts say it should not be used but I am still here and years back wood ash was a regular fertiliser.
  It would be good to mulch your fruit trees now whilst dormant, the goodness will wash down to the roots ready to be taken up when they start back into life, a feed in spring will be great and if you mix some weathered ash with some compost and spread a ring around the trees it will not harm them.
  As with all things little and often is better than a splurge.
  Frank.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Wednesday, 14th December 2011

  The OP specifically asked about wood ash, presumably from a wood-burner. Your post gives the impression you are talking about the residue from a coal fire or from burning general rubbish.
  
  If you have a wood-burner you will appreciate how much ash it produces and how fine it is.
  
  If you leave wood-ash to weather there won't be much left as it is so soluable. And surely the trace elements are of value.
  
  The OP didn't ask how much potash there was in wood-ash, just the difference between potash and wood-ash. And I doubt it carries enough heavy metal to be of concern.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Wednesday, 21st December 2011

  Wood ash should not be used around ericaeous plants. When the tea planters in India were clearing forest and scrub to plant tea, they found that where wood had been burnt and the soil ladden with ash - the camellias would not grow.

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  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Friday, 30th December 2011

  Wood ash is so alkali it can be used instead of lime!
  Be careful what you put it on, it's no wonder the camelia died.
  
  Lottie
  
  

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• Message 8

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  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Monday, 2nd January 2012

  I'm afraid I totally agree with Frank (Palaisglide).
  
  Woodash has a VERY high pH, so it's good for using instead of lime, but most crops won't thank you, unless you garden on very acid soil.
  
  I don't know about weathering the ash, so I can't advise as to that.
  
  Good luck,
  
  Lottie
  
  

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