Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Does Wood Ash Add Acidity to Soil?
Does Wood Ash Add Acidity to Soil?. Wood ash is the inevitable result of owning a wood stove or fireplace. Adding ashes to the garden is one way to get rid of ashes while adding useful nutrients to your soil at the same time. But because all gardens have different soil types and characteristics, wood ash cannot be recommended for all soils.
Wood ash is the inevitable result of owning a wood stove or fireplace. Adding ashes to the garden is one way to get rid of ashes while adding useful nutrients to your soil at the same time. But because all gardens have different soil types and characteristics, wood ash cannot be recommended for all soils.
pH Levels
Soil pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity of your garden. A low pH (6.5 or below) indicates acidic soil, while a high pH (7.4 or higher) indicates alkaline soil. The in-between range is considered neutral. Wood ash tends to be quite alkaline, so it raises pH when added to soil. It makes soil less acidic, not more.
Wood Ash
Adding wood ash raises pH, but it also adds much-needed nutrients to the soil. Wood ash contains potash, phosphate, iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc in levels that vary depending on what type of wood the ash came from.
Considerations
If you have acidic soil in your garden, adding wood ash is a great way to raise the pH and neutralize the acid. Most plants grow best in neutral or near-neutral soil. But if you have alkaline soil in your garden, adding wood ash may do more harm than good, making the soil even more alkaline.
