It is thought that wood ash will change the soil pH faster than lime, so care must be taken to not raise the pH too high. Start with a soil test so that you know what pH you have.

Real Estate News Wood ash from fireplaces can enrich garden soil. Here’s how. Wood ash contains calcium, magnesium, and potassium among a dozen or more important nutrients. This Oct. 21 photo ...

Different kinds of dirt? To be a successful gardener, know how to spot and use them correctly Plus, there's a lot of misinformation about improving garden soil.

It is best to add ash to the compost pile rather than directly to the garden, since the high concentration of lime can alter soil pH and may burn sensitive plants.

Wood ash can be used sparingly in gardens, spread thinly over lawns and stirred thoroughly into compost piles. Lawns needing lime and potassium benefit from wood ash — 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 ...

Wood ash is less effective than lime at making the soil sweeter, and too much can damage roots and new plants. Use lime only if a soil test recommends it.

According to new Yale research, adding lime to agricultural soils may help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

And if you’re in tune with the philosophy of recycling plant residues back into the natural cycle of soil fertility, you’ll want a better destination for those ashes than the trash bag.

Wood ash contains calcium, magnesium, potassium and other important nutrients. But always test the soil before spreading ashes.

Dear Dr. Dirt: My ash trees don’t look good and they probably will be coming down sooner or later. I am concerned that when they do come down that the infested wood will cause other trees to die.