Garden incynerator and what to do with ash

Counting_Pennies_2

I wonder if you can help.

We have a stack of garden waste and our neighbour has offered us the use of their garden incynterator. (what looks like a garden bin with a chimney coming out of it.

My question is how do you use one and what do you do with the burnt offerings, can they go on the garden?

Thanks

DaftyDuck

Oh yes. Potash rich and ideal for the veg garden... well any bit, but fruit and veg love it best. You can put it in with compost in a bin if you like, to mature and mix with the compost, but there's no real need. It is also good for breaking clay soil down, getting the worms active, and acting as a slug deterrent. You might wish to water it in a little if it doesn't rain in a few days, as it can scorch leaves and stems.
As to how to use one... place it away from buildings, fences, petrol cans, etc. Scrumple up a newspaper and place it in the bottom, then cover it lightly with burnable dry bits. You can use a firelighter. I'd never use petrol (I did once... hence I never will again). Light (and you can do it through the holes, if you've cleverly left loose paper at the edge. Then, once it is alight, add more burnable stuff. If there is a bit of breeze, you can get a roaring fire going... flames a few feet high. Best not, ast it can weaken the incinerator. If it gets too... exciting, stick the lid with a chimney on, and go away. If you keep burning until there is a solid ashy component about 1/3 full, the incinerator will stop burning well. Wait for the fire to go out (can take hours), empty on the bare soil, and start again. With the lid on, you can abandon it overnight. It will get very hot, and scorch the grass underneath, if you do it on the lawn, but that will regrow within a month. They are great, and save me ages when I cut my hedges.

blossomhill_2

Yes I agree with digging it in to break up clay soil, one of the best ways to do it

If you load it and leave it any length of time (or overnight) before setting light, do poke a stick round in it to warn any sheltering wildlife, as they seem attracted to mine

DaftyDuck

blossomhill wrote: »

Yes I agree with digging it in to break up clay soil, one of the best ways to do it

If you load it and leave it any length of time (or overnight) before setting light, do poke a stick round in it to warn any sheltering wildlife, as they seem attracted to mine

Good point, Blossomhill. For those of you who are building big bonfires in a month, leave an oily or paraffin rag in the base of the bonfire as well... it deters hedgehogs from crawling in the night before!

twiglet98

Is there any fruit or vegetable that definitely does NOT like ash from garden waste?

poorly_scammo

twiglet98 wrote: »

Is there any fruit or vegetable that definitely does NOT like ash from garden waste?

Yes there are. Ash is generally alkaline so don't put it near any plants which like acidic soil - raspberries for example.

See here:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=621