Things You'll Need:
- Ashes from fireplace or your coal burning stove.
- Compost pile
- Ice
- Your garden
- Chickens
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Step 1
In the winter ashes can provide good traction on icy walkway or driveways. Be sure to to have a good mat outside so people can wipe their feet so the don't track it indoors. This is a better idea then using salt with chemicals which can harm your plants and animals.
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Step 2
Give your chickens an ash bath! They'll flutter around in the ashes to get rid of parasites. Just put the ashes in a crate and put some where it will stay dry. Be sure to change on a regular base.
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Step 3
Ward off slugs and snail. Encircle your plant with a ring of ashes about 6 inches away from the stem of the plant and guess what they turn away in fear!
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Step 4
If you have a lot of acid in your soil, mix in ashes from your fireplace and it will help balance out the acid. Also on that note, fertilizing with ashes is also smart for your garden. Spread 5 to 10 pounds per 100 square feet over fresh soil and hoe lightly. Don't mix with manure though, unless it's already in the soil.
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Step 5
Care for fragile plants. Pile a mound of ashes around the stumps of plants like rhubarb, ferns, and hardy fuchsias. This will help protect them in the winter and also provide good nutrients to the root system.
Comments
amyrah said
on 8/24/2009 good one
mmetro said
on 8/12/2009 A great way to recycle...I would have never thought of many of these suggestions.
ttbirdie said
on 8/10/2009 WOW, I had no idea. Thanks 5* and rec
soanyway said
on 8/10/2009 Wonderful ideas, better then the big huge pile in the back yard! I have recomn'd you. Pay it forward to all! ;-)
4dogday said
on 3/10/2009 Thanks, I would never have thought about using them in the garden.