Wood ash contains a lot of minerals useful for plants. Fertilizers prepared from it are an ideal top dressing for vegetable crops, ornamental plants, perennials, and fruit-bearing trees. you can use 4 ways to make wood ash fertilizer.
how to make wood ash fertilizer?
As Dry ash
Ash extracted from a stove or from a fire will be an excellent fertilizer, significantly improving the composition of the soil. This substance helps to reduce acidity and accelerates the decomposition of organic matter. Ash-based fertilizing can be applied to any type of soil, with the exception of the carbonate type, which is characterized by an alkaline reaction. To obtain dry fertilizer, it is permissible to use ash in its original form, that is, without sifting.
To normalize the composition of the soil before planting plants, it is enough to spray a certain amount of dry ash over it. Then dig up the ground or leave the substance on the site as mulch. Under the influence of moisture, the ash will gradually be absorbed into the soil structure.
Such feeding should be used in the following proportions:
- per 1 m2 of sandy loam land – 200 g;
- per 1 m2 of loam – 700 g.
Excessive volume can lead to a change in alkaline parameters in the soil. This will have a negative impact on the life of plants.
Check guide Fertilizing Indoor Plants In Winter.
As Solutions of cold water and ash
The preparation of this fertilizer will be time-consuming since in this case the cold aging method is used. Coldwater is added to a container with ash and left for 1 week. The volume of the 2 components will directly depend on the crops for which feeding is being prepared. The standard option is a glass (250 g) of ash per 10 liters of water.
The resulting solutions are well absorbed by all plants, they are used for watering, as well as foliar feeding.
Ash Infusions
Ash infusion is one of the most affordable and popular means for plant nutrition. There are two ways to prepare it.
In the first case, you will need:
- 150 g of ash;
- 10 liters of water.
Liquid is added to a bucket with ash and stirred until the substance is completely dissolved. The resulting composition is especially recommended as a top dressing for indoor plants.
The second recipe includes:
- 1 tbsp. l. wood ash;
- 1 liter of boiling water (vara).
To obtain the infusion, you need to add ash to boiling water, mix thoroughly and stand for two days. All this time, the composition must be shaken periodically, and at the end strain. The resulting product is perfect for both plant watering and soil feeding.
See also How To Fix Hard Water For Plants?
By Decoctions of Ash
A decoction of ash is used for spraying plants in order to control pests, as well as for foliar dressing. The process of its preparation consists of several steps:
- 4 tbsp. l. pour the ash into a large container.
- Pour 2 liters there. water and put on the stove.
- Boil for 30 minutes over low heat.
To enhance the effect, at the end of cooking, you can add 50 g of crushed tar or laundry soap to the mixture. Then strain and dilute with 10 liters of clean water. A decoction of ash does not kill pests, but creates unfavorable conditions for them, as a result of which slugs, aphids, etc. disappear.
Wood ash is an excellent product that can be used both as a top dressing and to fight various pests. However, in the process of its use, it is necessary to strictly observe the dosage and sequence of actions during preparation.
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