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Strawberries,cow manure,& wood ash?

15 years ago

I am cleaning up out side,what a glories day,simply beautiful today.

Hubby cleaned out the ashes from the wood burner,i have a small amount of cow manure i am saving for when i plant out my strawberries,would it be benificial to mix the wood ashes with the manure?The manure is a year old,wood ash 1 month,strawberries,bare root.

Thank you guys, i hope you will be able to get out a little today,even just to walk around and "look" at every thing,THINKING OF YOU ALL,, AND WISHING YOU A HAPPY DAY.

cAROL

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Comments (8)

kiddo_1
15 years ago
From what I understand, wood ash is like lime, you use it if you have acid soil that needs to be more alkaline. I think strawberries like soil with a pH 5.5 to 6.5.
clumsygrdner
15 years ago
You'd need a whole lot of wood ashes to get an alkaline affect. How much do you have? If you have a whole lot, add it to root crops instead. It sweetens beets and carrots especially. Or put around a lilac or forsythia. They prefer alkaline soil.
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token28001
15 years ago
It's safe as long as no pressure treated wood was burned. I spread mine over the tomato patch every winter.
sandra60102
15 years ago
Zone 4a has gallardia, morning glories and anise hyssop seedlings.

Three milk jugs down, 103 to go.

Damn, this really works. Yes, I was really worrying I would be the one newbie with no sprouts!!!
tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
Strawberries prefer an acidic soil and by using the ashes you will render the soil slightly alkaline which is definitely not a good thing for them.

The best uses for the ashes is to spread them lightly on your lawn before a rain or simply add to the compost where they will be mixed in with a myriad of other things.

Here in our province, strawberries grow wild alongside of blueberries. Our soil is quite acidic making both of them happy. I use my wood ashes to keep the lawn nice and lush and apply it very lightly to certain plants I have winter sowed that I know like to have a bit of 'sweetness' added to their soil.
floodthelast
15 years ago
Do you have any pine needles? They are acidic and make a great mulch for strawberries.
just1morehosta
Original Author
15 years ago
Who would have known,well, i guess you guys,:0)

I don't have a lot of wood ash, just what we have taken out of the wood burner,we never use treated wood,never.

I will save it,and spread it around my tomatoes,which will be in containers, still ok to use?

And i do have one lilac bush i could use it on.

Thank you tiffy for the tip about the grass, i am trying to slowly get rid of all grass,what a job that is.
You sound like you live in the perfect spot,wild strawberries AND Blueberries,plus all the wild lupins,wonderful.

I am glad i asked this,can't wait to get these babies in the gorund.
I am planning on using straw inbetween the rows.
Thank you guys,
cAROL
token28001
15 years ago
Wood ashes are also known to deter slugs. Just saying....

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