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Brief on applying Ash composting in Garden in USA

There are many organic types of compost that we can use in our vegetables and other plants like vermicompost, chicken manure, cow dung compost, goat dung manure, biomass compost, etc. 

Using organic biomass is always easier because it decomposes easily. Using wood ash for fertilization or using it with compost is a very different thing from other types of compost. 

Here, I'll try to tell you about the usage of ash in your garden in both ways directly and by mixing it with compost. 

Ash composting in garden in USA

Well, it would not be correct to call Ash as pure decomposed organic compost. Let's understand then it briefly at first. 

Ash composting in USA

What is Ash composting?

Using a portion of ash in organic compost to make the compost nature acidic to balance the soil, is called ash composting. Because Ash is alkaline, it can reduce the acidic compost and soil too.

Although the decomposition of Ash is a slow and long process using it in a decomposed compost mixture helps very effectively for purposes. 

But using more than 3% to 6% of wood ash in compost can backfire on plants. 

Wood Ash components

Wood Ash is best for plants among all ashes. Wood Ash is a plentiful source of Carbon, Calcium, and potassium. These components make it alkaline and its solution with water is alkaline as well. The major part of wood ash is Carbon and Calcium. 

Apart from these, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Sodium are the other components as well that depends on the condition and type of wood. 

What happens when we mix the ash with soil and compost?

Let's understand both mixing one by one. I'm starting with direct using ash on the soil. 

Using direct ash in plants

I hope I've given you a brief of wood ash, its components, and its nature till now. 

Now, let's understand its behavior with soil while using it directly. As you know a certain portion of using ash either in soil or compost makes it more fertile and works well to reduce acidic soil but using it in a certain potion is slightly difficult. 

More or less use of using ash in direct soil may not help to improve soil health and using it more than required can make the soil more alkaline unnecessarily.

Direct ash improves the percentage of calcium, carbon, and potassium in the soil. These kinds of soil components are helpful in gardening plants like Beans, cauliflower, and Garlic. 

For neutral to alkaline soil like plants people sometimes scatter ash on the plants directly which is not helpful in acidic soil conditions. It is always better to use the ash on the soil and near the soil directly. Don't expect that your soil nature will change after this permanently but at least, it will make soil slightly rich and increase productivity overall. 

Making a thick layer of wood ash in the soil is not very helpful. Only use direct wood ash in the soil if your plants are facing any fungus or moss or any other infectious disease. In such cases, you can use it directly on the plants too in a very certain amount. 

Using ash with compost

Wooden ash mixing with compost does not work for all plants. For neutral to acidic soil, it is almost a disaster to use it with compost. 

For neutral to alkaline soil-loving plants don't hesitate the mixture of compost and Ash with a ratio of 95% and 5% respectively or above 94% compost and 6% compost and ash is not bad too for general cases. 

Method of using ash in garden

Now let's understand how to prepare the mixture of compost and ash. Here, using the word compost means organic biomass decomposed compost, so don't get confused about it. 

I've tried to make things simple for you, you just follow the steps to make it. Generally, there are two ways of mixing ash with compost. Either you can make mix both after the whole decomposition of the compost or you can mix it in starting. 

In my opinion, you should mix both according to your plants' needs. Follow the steps- 

Step 1- First, you have to prepare the compost. It is always better to make compost according to the plant's needs( I mean according to nutrients). Considering you need to mix ash in the early stages, you have to mix the same ratio of ash as suggested above initially. 

Step 2- Now, when your organic biomass is decomposed well after a couple of months, you are on the edge to mix the ash in it. First, mix the decomposed material well, and sprinkle the ash and water spray on it.  

Step 3- Mix all the materials one last time gently. Now, you can use it as direct organic fertilizer for your garden plants or vegetables. 

Step 4- Suppose you want to mix the ash initially, then the prepared material will have a slight dominance of organic biomass. 

When we direct use ash in the soil, we make use of it as mulch on it. Steps to follow if you are using ash directly in the soil- 

Step 1- Filter the wood ash in a container. Don't mix the water in it. 

Step 2- Use a flat container to sprinkle a wooden layer as mulch in your plant's pots or gardening land. 

Step 3- Spray some water if ash is not settled in the soil or heavy storms.  

Precautions while using ash in gardens

  • Don't mix water with ash before mulching or it will be difficult to spread it. The ash powder will stretch too much after water mixing. 
  • It is very slowly working and less effective if you scatter ash after composting. 
  • First, make sure that your plants need alkaline properties in the soil. List the plants those doesn't admire neutral to alkaline soil. 
  • Use only wooden ash, don't even consider any other walking species ash in your garden or lawn. 
  • Don't use ash in non-organic fertilizers or powdery fertilizers. 

Which plants don't like Ash composting?

Plant those like acidic soil and components don't feel ash composting habitable. 
Plants like Azaleas, parsley, potatoes, parsley, and berries like plants some of the popular plants that don't like ash composting. 
Apart from their hesitation from ash composting, these plants affect the overall presence of microorganisms in the soil. Affecting the microorganisms is a very serious thing in any soil for plant growth.

Do worms like wood ash compost?

Though it is bad for plants that like acidic soil but for worms, it can help to make it more comfortable for them to increase the soil pH to neutral.
Worms don't like wood ash completely but it is not too bad to use it in a very tiny amount to increase the overall activity of decomposition. 
The right method to use wood ash for worms is to sprinkle it on the biomass mixture. Don't use more than 5% directly with the mixture. Thus, you can use it in a beneficial term rather than using it to disturb the decomposition process. 

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