The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: suziequeue on February 06, 2011, 11:23:55 am

Title: Raspberry mulch
Post by: suziequeue on February 06, 2011, 11:23:55 am

I was thinking of putting a compost mulch around our raspberries but our compost has got quite alot of wood ash in it from our stove.

Is this going to be OK?

Susanna

Title: Re: Raspberry mulch
Post by: doganjo on February 06, 2011, 06:29:04 pm

I've just put a new stove in and the instructio0n booklet says that the resultant wood ash has no benefits for gardens.  Perhaps mixed with other compost it would be Ok - just to bulk it out.

Title: Re: Raspberry mulch
Post by: norcalorganic on February 07, 2011, 04:29:52 pm

Wood ash is chock full of nutrients, especially potassium. Unless you're burning pelleted fuel, the manufacturers of your stove are lying to you.

Title: Re: Raspberry mulch
Post by: doganjo on February 07, 2011, 04:57:33 pm

It is a Danish Morso Badger - I quote "Ash from a woodburning stove does not benefit your garden as fertiliser'  Am I misinterpreting that? ??? ???  Would they have a reason to lie?  It is sold as a multifuel burner, but is mainly recommended to burn wood.

Title: Re: Raspberry mulch
Post by: Greenerlife on February 07, 2011, 05:04:04 pm

Wood ash can help reduce highly acidic soil, but can complicate matters if you have neutral or Alkaline soil, to the point where it can stop plants taking in nutrients.  Having said that, I frequently mulch raspberries with ash, and add it to my veg patch every year!  i haven't noticed any difference whatsoever!