How Do I Apply Firepit Ash to my Garden?

Firepit ash is a surprisingly great source of lime and potassium. Whether you own a Walden Legacy Firepit with a stoker poker or you have your own homemade firepit, you can collect, save, and apply it to your garden to reap numerous benefits. 

How Do I Apply Wood Ash to My Garden?

Applying firepit ash to your garden should be done with 10 pounds of ash for every 1,000 square feet of soil you intend to cover. For extremely acidic soil, using up to 25 pounds of ash per 1,000 square feet of soil is highly recommended. This will also increase potassium throughout the soil. A standard 5-gallon bucket will hold up to 20 pounds of ashes. 

Applying firepit ash to your soil should be done evenly and without piling ash on top of any area of soil, even if you believe the area is in dire need of nutrients or a boost. Applying too much ash to the top of your soil can be counterintuitive, smothering the dirt and grass. 

Why Would I Use Firepit  Ash In My Garden?

Using ashes from your Legacy Firepit or your own firepit in your garden can help provide macronutrients that your soil and garden may otherwise be lacking. Some of the most notable advantages of applying wood ash to any garden include: 

• Improve your soil health: Wood ash contains natural lime and potassium, which can help to boost the overall health of your garden's soil while also providing macronutrients that can be useful for growing fruits, vegetables, and other types of plants with ease. 
• Compost: The use of firepot ash is also excellent for composting. Adding wood ash to your compost can provide salt and lye, especially once it has become wet and mixed in with other composting ingredients. 
• Pest repellent: A major benefit of using wood ash in your garden is warding off and repelling pests, ranging from snails and slugs to fruit flies. Sprinkling just a bit of wood ash near a plant's base can help keep pests from approaching or make your garden their home. 
• Balanced pH levels: One of the most significant advantages of applying firepit ash to any garden or area with soil is the ability to balance pH levels. Wood ash contains potassium and lime, which can help provide additional nutrients and pH balance to the soil itself, making it more preferable for plant growth. 

Do Some Vegetables or Fruits Benefit More From Firepit Ash?

Some vegetables, fruits, and flowers benefit from firepit ash, depending on their nutrient needs. Tomato plants are extremely fond of  campfire ash, requiring plenty of potassium for an abundant yield. Because ash contributes additional potassium and organic matter, tomato plants may seriously thrive with wood ash. Other flowers, plants, vegetables, and fruits benefit more from firepit ash:

• Garlic
• Onions
• Chives
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Stone fruit plants/trees
• Roses
• Lavender
• Hydrangeas

Can Firepit Ash Harm Anything? 

Applying too much firepit ash to already balanced soil can be harmful, especially when using too much. It is only best to apply wood ash to soil with a pH level of less than 7-7.5. Using wood ash around plants that require or desire acid to grow and develop properly is also not recommended—plants to avoid spreading firepit ash to include potatoes, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.

What Are Some of the Most Popular Uses of Firepit Ash Outside of the Garden? 

Using firepit ash is not limited to just your garden. There are a few popular uses of wood ash that are not related to gardening whatsoever, including:

• Fertilizer
• Stain absorber
• Insect repellent
• Ice Melter
• Glass cleaner
• Fire stopper
• Deodorizer
• Dust bath (for outdoor animals such as chickens)
• Chicken and livestock supplement (in some instances)
• Skunk odor remover

Understanding the benefits of firepit ash and its applications can help you navigate your garden with this handy resource. When you are familiar with the pH balance required in your garden's soil and the type of plants you intend to grow this year, you can apply the proper amount of ash throughout your garden without a second thought.