Recycling fire ashes?

usignuolo

I have an open fire on which I burn a combination of smokeless coal and wood. Is there anything useful I can do to recycle the resulting ashes?

diable

Through it on your garden path if you have snow/ice.

Ebe_Scrooge

Yes, it's great for throwing on icy paths.

Other than that - wood ash is good for your garden or compost heap. Coal ash unfortunately is not - it is too acidic and will spoil the soil. If you burn wood and coal separately, then the wood ash goes on the garden and the coal ash has to go in the bin. If the ash is a mixture, then I'm not sure there's much use for it - other than icy paths.

Little_Vics

what does it do on icey paths?

Ebe_Scrooge

It will help melt the ice to a small extent ( like salt ), but it also gives a gritty surface to walk on - so even though it's still icy, you have less chance of slipping.

elektra-2007

I wouldnt throw mine on my path...it will still be there when the snow has melted!, the last tenants of my house put it on the garden next to an out building, years later its still there!!! I had some holes in my garden and uneven borders I filled them up and covered the top with soil and my daffs still grew thru!!
Now i just put it in metal bin to cool then normal bin.

bear1969

have seen it put in between joists in flats and houses (deadens noise between buildings etc) apparently so an old builder told me

izzydogsam

We put ours around the edges of the raised beds in the garden to deter slugs etc. Apparently they don't like to cross it cos it's gritty?!?

molerat

Laid a patio on it years back, cheaper than sand.

camelot1001

I know all about putting it under floors - shortly after we moved here the ceiling fell in and it had been filled with ash. What a mess!!

elektra-2007

molerat wrote: »

Laid a patio on it years back, cheaper than sand.

What a brilliant idea I could use mine as hardcore the amount of lumps in it!!!