Will coal dust ruin grass?

jaspercat2002

We have an open fire and when we moved to this house the previous owners left a big plastic coal bunker behind. Unfortunately the local cats had got in and been using it as a giant litter tray so it absolutely stinks and really need jet washing out before we can store coal in it. It has a layer of coal dust at the bottom though and we have no open drain in the back garden to wash the waste water down. I washed it on the grass would the coal dust get washed down into the ground do you think or would it ruin the grass?

Many thanks if anyone can help

Zoe

Mojisola

Our allotments have a big bunker set up for soot - gardeners like it for the soil. I've never put it on grass but can't see that it would do any harm. Do you have flower beds where you can spread it around on the soil?

vaio

Unlike soot, I think coal is inert so adding it to grass wouldn’t be any different from adding sand (except obviously it’s black)

If you’re still worried could you not shovel it out and drop it in the bin?

jaspercat2002

Thanks - I think I will give it a try. I will shovel out as much as I can first so will only be the dust that is left. At least if I do it now the grass will have all winter for it to get washed in.

andy69_2

I would shovel it out then if you want give it a spary but their would probably be no need

27col

Just think of it as black soil conditioner.

muckybutt

Coal dust is different to soot, putting soot straight onto grass will burn it to a crisp, soot has to mature for a good year before using it in the garden