What Happens When You Use Ash in the Garden?

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Everyone! I just wanted to say thanks for your ongoing support. Your sharing of my videos, commenting, thumbs-up-ing, etc really has helped heaps to promote a recent upsurge in new subscribers and views! Although I can't answer every comment (over 7k in the last 28 days and that's just on YT) I do read them and you motivate me every day to create more content. Cheers :) selfsufficientme.com/

[@Snuzzlekin]

Good on you mate, i'm sure we are all having a blast watching you enjoying your garden and inspiring others to do the same.

[@cajunfid]

Does this typically work better with hardwoods or can softwoods, like the common southern yellow pine that grows around here in Louisiana, be used as well?

[@Selfsufficientme]

@@cajunfid Both would work just as well - I guess softwood might even have more potash - don't quote me on it, but from my research and use the ash from general plant waste and softwoods etc is better than core hardwood. There's a case that charcoal is also excellent in the garden although that is another subject. Cheers :)

[@TheGourmetHusband]

Do you use all rain collected water? How much water do you go through on the daily?. I just started growing all my own vegetables on my balcony inspired by your videos. Got my Lemon Boys and Romas coming in soon. Just had a run in with End Rot but they taste better. Thank you for all your vids very entertaining as well as educational.

[@marcoursi6062]

@@Selfsufficientme Normally the more is the proportion of bark, the more the potash....I don't know the specifics, but that's what I read around...

[@TheSaltySiren]

Honestly, I feel that basic farming should be taught in schools. You never know what will happen 20 years from now. We all may need to be self sufficient and have to completely grow our own food. This video was brilliant Mark! Thank you so much!! I knew that burning yellow spots in the grass caused them to grow back beautifully green and lush. But I never knew why! I do now!

[@bradclifton5248]

Times are coming when home gardens and self sufficiency will be essential again. Smaller, closer, localised food production.

[@luukhoedjes4339]

I love this idea!

[@dont.ripfuller6587]

You said 20 years...Im tracking that idea to be closer to 20 days....🌱🐌

[@Doc1855]

We grow or raise almost all of our food. It always tastes better and is more healthy bc we use natural insecticides and organic fertilizers.

[@lifeunderthestarstv]

A lot of this basic stuff USED to be taught! Capitalism and right wing idiots removed it so they could sell more shit processed foods. Started in America and super markets around the 50s-60s and the older generations died off. It's sad.

[@Feuerspray31]

Well, Grandma always did like being in the garden.....

[@nobody7557]

Mandalore06 cursed

[@javierth1238]

When it hit me i did the 😮 face lmao

[@OriginalMilkman001]

Lol!

[@apollorf429]

I am guessing she made a great meal too

[@nagualdesign]

Such a sweet old lady.

[@ocayaro]

I live in South Africa and it’s peach season. I have a peach tree that never really produced meaningful peaches in the last few years. I have been dumping barbecue ash around it for no other reason than to get rid of the ash. But this year I was startled by the amount of flowering, and eventually peach fruits from a luxurious tree. Now I know the reason.

[@dustinbrandel59]

God bless u in south africa. May god bless u and ur fruit trees.

[@Sk1tz092]

That's amazing 👏

[@moisestorres933]

Nice!!!

[@alexwells2231]

@@writenamehere0000 voetsak

[@writenamehere0000]

@@alexwells2231 english would be nice

[@brucesteuer9696]

You can use ashes to clean the glass front of wood burning stoves together with just a little water. It is an effective abrasive. Rub it on and wipe it off. Then you have a nice clean view of your fire again.

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

It’s also a soap alternative if you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere. Wood ash, particularly hardwoods, contain a good amount of lye. Be careful of burns if you use it though. Don’t let the ash sit on your skin too long.

[@watchingyoutoo6238]

I love how this dude straight up says right out the gate what he's going to show you no beating around d the bush good on you sir keep up the great work

[@mreshadow]

You'd expect an Australian to beat around the bush

[@lordlevi2749]

Why isn't stuff like this taught in schools? This should be very public knowledge and yet I'm just learning about this. Great vid!

[@marlonmunguia163]

They used to teach us in middle school (I live in a farming community), they soon stopped when I was in high school.

[@Theloveinabubble]

I learned how to produce veggies,and now I'm teaching my siblings and cousins, I'm not waiting for school to take some kind of initiative

[@cerebral-liberty]

Because they want consumers, being self sufficient is in direct competition with the economy, proof that we need to change the structure of the economy.

[@Schnuppi67]

It's is thought in school at least here in Germany as a veeeeery basic part of normal chemistry classes

[@Feuerspray31]

School's are concerned with indoctrination, not education.

[@archieedwards3746]

He seems like he’s such a great bloke

[@restorationglam799]

Right, I just started watching his videos and ever video I want to give him a beer and say let's go to the garden

[@iggidec3300]

He's Australian, it comes naturally to him 🤗

[@MrBillFold]

You think he enjoys smoking marijuana?

[@imaginewaffles1318]

@@MrBillFold lol probably

[@WarmFuzzyVibes]

Yes, he has a real love for plants and the soil.

[@ravenblack7552]

My grandmother told me about how when she was a little girl growing up on her family's farm in western Pennsylvania, one of her chores was to take ash from their coal stove and walk thru the gardens and sprinkle it on the leaves. Not sure if that was on every crop or just certain ones, but it acted as a bug repellent and kept the little pests from eating the leaves.

[@martyollier7536]

Yep, my grandma taught me that too and it works a treat.

[@ronaldnorris2179]

My grandparents taught me the same 👍

[@michaelbausachverstandiger5172]

are you shure it was industrial coal ash? seems not healthy to me. maybe it was wood ash?

[@samgaither793]

Coal ash has heavy metals in it that the crops absorb

[@MsTazChristi]

We live high in the mountains and use a wood burning stove all winter. We mix the ash into our compost and feed the plants with it. Healthy gardens make us proud! Thank you for your awesome videos.

[@jcb3393]

But does this work well for all plants? My question is whether adding Ash to a composter makes it too acidic and makes it not good for things like tomatoes cucumbers lettuce and other things commonly found in a vegetable garden...

[@stormisuedonym4599]

@@jcb3393 Makes it more alkaline. *Much* more alkaline.

[@jakemon4550]

@@jcb3393 I think washing it with water to leave just the pot ash helps with this, and also making sure you don't add too much at once, pot ash is the purest form of fertilizer that you can get and just like the fertilizer from the store you can burn your plants with it if you are not careful. I'm not 100% on how you extract the pot ash from ash but I am sure there are videos on it.

[@PomazeBog1389]

*_MARK INSPIRED ME TO GROW A GARDEN. I HAVEN'T BOUGHT VEGETABLES FROM THE STORE IN 2 YEARS._*

[@Liquidforce4441]

Just started my first garden, also inspired by marks work.

[@louiekidd251]

The potash is very fine and goes airborne very easy. If you weep potash with a broom when it's dry, you may get a huge cloud of dust. It gives me a terrible headache and I'm sure you will want to wear a dust mask.

[@obsidiananime1737]

@@louiekidd251 a

[@magictooth2]

Great! I'm heading in the same direction

[@ethank5681]

Rip zyzz

[@KUYA222]

When I was at my young age, my Grandma taught me to use ash for our growing vegetables. I asked her why, she said "because that's how my grandma taught us, since it's good for plants". And so now I totally understand why. Thanks for this video, would definitely use this method again.

[@francesjuntunen4234]

Me too! Lol

[@sallygator]

Also egg shells adding calcium to tomatoes.. it makes sense

[@johnbodman4504]

Ash has been used for thousands of years in horticulture, it provides potassium and also essential trace elements. Potassium helps in the formation of sugar, so it can help to sweeten fruit. It can improve the texture of soil, not the structure, which is entirely different. A lot of people use it in potting mix, as it improves drainage and adds potassium and trace elements.

[@StragglerTx]

We still control burn pastures and always comes back greener , the Comanches would burn certain spots of grasslands on the plains that later attracted buffalo herds to graze .

[@lukehmaxw]

Yep. He told us that in the video…

[@pilsplease7561]

potassium is super important for grapes and my soil is deficient in it every year

[@jesusagonzales9485]

Texas here. I'm about to retire and so glad I found your videos. Learning about growing my own food and hopefully to help others. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. ☺

[@Selfsufficientme]

All the best with your retirement Jesusa! Cheers :)

[@foodforest012]

Grow some paw paws Texas is perfect for it

[@johndowe7003]

down here in south texas its hard to grow anything, the sun will burn up most stuff

[@dorianchriste8645]

I was taught and used fireplace ash to treat plants as new spring growth developed. Ash is great for treating mold or fungus on delicate flowering plants. Blackspot on roses, ash works better for the garden than a commercial fungicide. Ash dusted over the tops of plants in the spring eliminates the condition without compromising the natural balance in the soil.

[@carolbrehm1]

does it help against aphids?

[@dorianchriste8645]

@@carolbrehm1 Aphids and mealy bugs are often raised and protected by ants, especially outside. I prefer to use non-pesticide based aphid killers. My favorite for inside plants, works well as a household pest eradicator: D.E. diatometious earth (food grade is the safest). Here are a few organic, and more natural methods to pest control. Inside plants won't require you worrying about protecting friendly protective insects. Outside insect protection requires thought to protect your helpful insects that thrive on aphids and do the work naturally. Try not to kill them. Do a search for safe organic pest controls for your plants, YT videos are out there to help. Here are a few: Aphid outside garden control kzbin.info/www/bejne/foSml62Dl5tjbpo Mealy bugs and aphids, inside and outside plants kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJ6vf3SGiZWartk Many outside pest controls kzbin.info/www/bejne/nonPhJyZj6psoKs Enjoy your gardening. It is worth the time and work.

[@keithadams6492]

Learnt from a farmer in the rain forest in Costa Rica. Use ash in a 3" trench around anything you don't want slugs in. Slugs cannot cross ash.

[@Photosynthesisbeing]

Thank you I got a little slug problem starting.....

[@emmettroche313]

Same

[@Amanda-kw1vi]

I haven't tried it yet but I have a bag waiting for when I try and plant watermelon after 2-3 years not doing it because something like to go after them

[@lindsayschilling8707]

Wow, I'll be doing that!

[@FastEddy396]

Great to hear an Aussie accent again. I lived in your country twice and fell in love with the people. Mostly, I lived in Far North Queensland and spent time in Tazzie. Hope that you are safe and well. Best-

[@pamelavance648]

Watching these videos makes my heart happy wish I was there sitting at a table in the garden enjoying the peace of it. It may be work but it's the kind of work that gives you joy

[@lindsayschilling8707]

Yes. It is very satisfying to look out at your beautiful veggie garden. And, then harvest your hard work and eat it!!!

[@1788paultato]

I recently tried this in my small backyard garden on my bok choy. I had a couple of plants that were not doing well. As soon as I put in ash around them, they started growing like crazy! Thanks so much for this! Your videos are very helpful.

[@zayxen9346]

Something to note a about using ash is you wanna keep it to wood material only, when you use outside things like plastic or bleached paper it makes the ash dangerous for the plants

[@Jen-tt9yx]

That's good to know I was going to burn my bills which contain ink of course.

[@vickijacksonmcgaugh6629]

@@Jen-tt9yx it's all I do, burn my bills and paper from my company. No plastic of course. Zero problems. I bury the stems from vine borers, like my grandmother. Compost the rest. I would bet paper has less chemicals than grass hay or straw.

[@Madchris8828]

Good point

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

Also be sure to remove nails.

[@hreyes499]

How about cremated human ash?

[@erich9532]

More people need to see this! Growing your own food and being connected to the earth is so important. Most humans are like declawed cats; unable to provide their own food. Causes a primal and subconscious anxiety that bleeds into the rest of life! What you do helps people man, keep up the amazing work

[@8oclocktomatotalk]

Greetings! The part about a primal and subconscious anxiety: you hit the nail on the head there, friend!

[@kettlejocksjr7771]

Nah man it's called evolution . This is all just a hobby.

[@alexanderchenf1]

@@kettlejocksjr7771 For you it is devolution and dependency

[@awesomedavid2012]

This also goes beyond food too. People are so dependent for food, saftey, survival aid, etc.

[@deusdex1186]

@@kettlejocksjr7771 You're not evolved. You're domesticated. One moment of crisis and you'd be useless.

[@skyc3598]

I love your videos man. You're one of a handful of people thatre helping create better people for our planet. Much respect!

[@goodgirlsguide]

I like the way you word that. Better people for our planet.

[@Braintier]

hes such a caring person, im new to his channel and im already loving him.

[@nickb3005]

Great advice! My father uses this every year in his garden and he always produced delicious giant tomatoes and peppers with pot ash and horse manure. I know this helps because others nearby(nieghbors) would have a much less impressive garden and produce less yield when not using this method. Great for keeping bugs away as you mentioned. They hate ash.

[@trippyraspo542]

I just started getting into gardening and this guy is my favorite KZbin gardener so far. He's a cheeky lil' buggah.

[@trippyraspo542]

LOL @ 5:35

[@xaras4954]

Same

[@moreknowslessshows]

He is one of those guys that you can tell he is a good person just by looking at them.

[@longanddeadly]

Its Australia, pretty sure this is your regular garden variety aussie. They're all happy. Everyday a regular insect or mammal or something can kill you, the fact that he's alive means he's happy.

[@BearGryllzUnRated]

@@longanddeadly bahahaha true but we dont even think about it

[@plvmbvm513]

@Jason Coughenour "rarely is that true" seems like a bit of a stretch

[@Fable1Guides]

@@plvmbvm513 in america theyre all pieces of shit. 99% OF THEM

[@stevem7571]

@@Fable1Guides oh yeah? Well just think what life would be like if there weren't any cops at all. You and almost everyone you know wouldn't even be alive

[@waynemalford3020]

Easily The greatest gardener on KZbin. Every video leaves me in awe and envy.

[@ianvaldez3886]

Used all the fireplace ash from the snowmagedon here in Texas. Our tomato plants went way past their usual size to some indeterminate tomato trees lol. This definitely works.

[@ZanarGaming]

This channel is awesome

[@chefgiovanni]

Yes, cheers from USA !

[@minnow4008]

Agreed, I'm just now getting into gardening and watching this dude is refreshing. Love it.

[@--Paws--]

Interesting to see you here, but a welcome surprise

[@Steve-qo4hi]

Totally agree!

[@kpbriann]

Sure is! Very relaxing

[@marthabenson2769]

I add pot ash & DE to the dust bath areas used by my free range chickens to keep mites & parasites at bay.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Great tip and use for ash! Cheers :)

[@bigwalker5429]

My grandfather taught me this trick when I was younger basically more for bugs and like you said fungus and helps hold moisture and bigger pieces promote drainage. Slugs really hate it we always spread it and waited a couple days to water and never seen them again. It is really good to use in the cold season to stabilize through winter. Good show

[@carreyh780]

We have been doing this for years in Jamaica, and I am 67 years old, good information

[@bigbrickwall]

This guy partly fills the hole in my heart that was formed when Steve Irwin died.

[@thelaughingtiger146]

Womp, womp, wommmmppp.

[@geojelly9830]

@@jq7323 You're wrong. Whoever needed this video to know ash can be used in the garden is learning. Not everyone is an expert. i'm just a beginner with growing food

[@noneshere]

Ash is still good but charcoal is way better. Its better to pour water on the coals before they turn to ash. The more coal powder you have blended in the soil the less fertilizer you'll need. It looks good & conditions the soil nicely.

[@callumblakeney7935]

Jacob Peters god yeah cause everyone just knows that, it’s standard teaching really. Dumb dumb

[@mipueblo7042]

@@jq7323 you are a prime example of a coño.

[@marc6611]

I gotta say I just got into organic veggie gardening last year, and even though I'm in Canada and our climate is practically completely different you helped teach me heaps about the topic and your videos help to keep me interested and inspired. You have a tonne of knowledge and a garden I'm jealous of lol. I can't grow half as much but still enjoy the content regardless. Keep up the awesome content! Cheers mate!

[@ericwiese7479]

I couldn’t agree more. Hi from Canada light, (Minnesota) lol

[@dont.ripfuller6587]

All you need to know is with the trees. dead leaves contain virtual every nutrient, vitamin, mineral, amino acids. Composted dead leaves with dead vegetation to mulch the top, as it decays add a layer of composted dead leaves and more mulch. Earthworms will plow and deposit, mycorrhizae will establish so forget the plowing or go in spots so as not to disrupt the fungus network. Year after year it will build into priceless fertile soil running deeper than you can spade in one shot. Keep things rotated and keep the poisons away. After studying all that npk crap an old man straightened the whole affair out for me. No manures so no disease worrys. Good luck and happy growing. Feed the soil not the plant.

[@marc6611]

Right now I've been using leaves in my compost and toss leaves on top of my beds to over winter, unfortunately it doesn't break down fast enough to plant into by spring. so I mix it in then cover with soil in the spring pr take it off and add to my compost heap. this year I'll take my compost at the end of the year and mix it into the soil in the fall, and more or less mix it up come spring in the hopes it's broken up a bit more over the 6 months and start a new compost pile with leaves from the fall

[@cocoeulo3307]

I love that part about almost ashing the blueberry bed. This was really educational.

[@marysewell9200]

Yeah those blueberries wouldn't have liked it at all lol. I give my blueberries coffee and tea grounds, because both are acidic and blueberries love acid.

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

He likes to apeal to younger people or the children of the adults who might be watching.

[@pentium41andy]

Great information here. Except the NPK photo used is slightly inaccurate. The Phosphorus is for blooming and fruit production not root development. The potassium is for root development. Sorry to have to be the one to address that. At Least this is what is taught in both fields of Horticulture and Arboriculture. Background I've been to college for both. I am currently an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist as well as a TCIA Certified Tree Care Specialist. Keep making these videos. I enjoy them and they're full of good info. Cheers.

[@callenae]

This gentleman is so very knowledgeable, and I very much enjoy his explanations on how and why he does certain things. If I ever get to visit Australia, I would definitely want to visit his farm.

[@mr.e8566]

I use it on tomatoes in conjunction with coffee grounds and teabag fillings on a bi-weekly basis and they are doing great to the point I had to replace the supports to handle the thicker stem.

[@patriciahogg5763]

What ratios? Coffee:grounds:ash? Sounds good! 😊

[@stephenemerson9890]

I use a hardware mesh to sift out the larger charcoal and save for the next cookout. Great video on Potassium, which is naturally low in the Mississippi soils in my area.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing your tip, cheers :)

[@Nobody-11B]

I use the char to make biochar. And ash watered down to extract the nutrition from it, never just added it before. Good to try stuff though.

[@jackcarlson7389]

Thanks!

[@kotk05]

In hope his g'arden said thanks!

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day Jack, thank you for the generous Super Thanks! Sorry for the late reply... All the best for 2024 :)

[@michael7423]

Been a big fan for a while now and I love it when KZbin pops up with a recommendation for one of your earlier video’s like this one. You are my favorite garden professor, I learn so much useful garden info from you Mark! Thank you again Mark! Stay safe 😷 and keep well!!!

[@lori8553]

Right off the bat I have to say I love the swivel cooking racks in the fire pit. I’ve never seen that before. What a great idea. The raised beds are nice as well. That’s one nice garden you have. All the fruit trees too. Newbie here. Definitely a big 👍 and a fallow. That was very informative.

[@jamesdavis3008]

“Ooooo crikey she’s heavy” and that’s the moment when I subscribed.

[@tahahadada1936]

Bald and bankrupt says it too

[@janiceosborn4570]

Yeah James, he's really a funny, versitile, knowledgeable, REAL kinda guy. I showed some of his videos to my daughter and we're both subscribed now. He's got something for everybody who gardens or just wants to be a bit more free..

[@erwin643]

Wow, thanks for the info! Up until now, I've been just dumping ashes onto my compost piles, then mixing it up.

[@Aatell764]

I love when he didn't try acting like he knew everything when talking about the K standing for Potassium

[@katoloniable]

Indeed. Genuine fellow..😃

[@lostpony4885]

K.

[@harrykersey3181]

You get much healthier plants and better yield able to cope with the elements like the cold .

[@harrykersey3181]

Just because someone likes to share their knowledge with the readers don't belittle them and brand them as a know it all . We are all teachers and all students in the same breath.

[@jonobonnowonno1]

you are such a great presenter, got me interested in gardening

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you and all the best getting into gardening! Cheers :)

[@robmcghie5248]

Can’t get enough of this charming guy. He is a font of practical garden knowledge. Bonzer!

[@brendaheddens660]

I love learning from you. You're a great teacher ☺️ Thank you so much Hope you and your wife have a blessed day

[@jeep4ron]

I’ve always put mine in the compost.. I will try some right in the garden this time. And the rest in the compost. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day Mark..!!

[@jhwheuer]

living Off Grid McGarvey style I found my worms don’t like ash...

[@silverback1962]

I assume the potash will leach out if the compost is in ground in a pit ?

[@jeep4ron]

Great thoughts on both of those things. Thanks..!!

[@antennawilde]

ash in the compost slows the composting cycle. Compost needs to remain acidic. Spread the ash on the garden in the spring instead, or mix it into the compost right before the compost is ready to use.

[@shadyman6346]

living Off Grid McGarvey style Honestly, it is better to add to compost,because of the p.h. Wood ash has high p.h.

[@adriandent3028]

Ash is one of the best things ever. I used to have mediocre onions and garlic, until I started adding ash as a top dressing. It made SUCH a difference. I haven't seen as much improvement in other plants, but WOW!!! it makes a difference to alliums

[@bking8985]

This is by far the best gardening/horticulture channel I've found yet! I've had a green thumb sinc a child and love gardening. Love this video!

[@DWReed01]

I used oak ash from the fireplace in my raised garden bed, and I’ll tell you what, I can tell this definitely helps a lot

[@Alex-vw6dc]

A great guy who loves plants so much. He must be a happy man, and never complain about the life.

[@mrdavidurquhart]

I really liked how educational this was. Thanks for going to the trouble to make such a great contribution for the gardener that wants more success.

[@vigopepperpopper5353]

Mind reading while gardening while instructing. Now that's talent.

[@lindayurk4367]

Been doing this for years but I’m 72 and still learned something I didn’t know Thank you

[@StillSwirling]

We dump the ash from our wood stove into the garden in the winter. When the snow meltes it gets into the soil that way too. Now I know to be more selective about in the future based on what I'm planting that year ☺

[@dooshakhaboosha2573]

I did this (before watching this video) and my orange tree absolutely loved it. Got heaps of oranges this year

[@sipps6557]

G'day from Georgia, USA. Great Job! My Tomatoes love their potash. I would burn on my garden during winter, when I lived on a sandy soil. The Tomatoes were awesome. They loved it.

[@JustinDOehlke]

I live a lonely life, but you are a friend to me nonetheless. Any time I need to reference something pertinent to gardening, I search your channel. You've never let me down yet. And, it's altogether like having tea with a neighbor. Thank you for all of your work.

[@NihouNi]

Thanks for your explanation of why potash helps plants grow better. In the UK we had such a long winter that we had a lot of ash from our log burning stove. I thought I'd throw it under the redcurrants. This year, they haven't had disease for the first time in a few years, and the crop is so heavy. I've had to prop up the branches.

[@seanrathgeber]

Depends on what you’re growing and how acidic your soil is, ash used sparingly is okay, don’t over ash your garden

[@glytchmeister9856]

Hardwood ashes are known to have a higher potassium content - they are the optimal ash to make KOH, potassium hydroxide, or lye. This is the stuff used to make soap back in the day from lard. So while twigs and leaves might have more in general, you can still get plenty of potash from a heater or wood stove if you use hardwoods… especially oak, but beech and hickory work fine too. To reduce the amount of black charcoal left over, make sure your fire is getting plenty of air. This will ensure complete combustion. You don’t need to use a billows or something, just make sure the fire structure has plenty of gaps through which air can flow naturally. And finally, the best time to add potassium is early to middle spring - this is when there will be plenty of rain, and when the plants are flowering, which is when they need potassium the most. Be careful to use potash in moderation. Too much alkalinity can harm plants, even those that prefer alkaline soils.

[@ariefbudianto8391]

The thing with hardwood is it's difficult to burn. So it takes more time. I once tried to make potash from avocado branches and twigs. What I didn't realize is the wood is so hard. I can't even make it into ash.

[@ceconk123]

Palm tree ashes contain around 30% Potassium

[@OntarioOutdoorsEnterprisesInc]

I also just learned from Wranglerstar that ash and water make a paste that's very good for cleaning glass window on a wood stove/fireplace - wish I had known that years ago. So many great uses!

[@JessicaJLandi]

Yes! I just learned the same thing last year. It was the best fireplace glass door cleaner I ever used. Ash & water...who knew?!

[@offroadriverfishing]

Every autumn I would rake up leaves and place on the soil in dad’s garden. In winter I would place ash from the fireplace (burnt almond) on the leaves. Take a round shovel and turn the ground over to mix in the soil, let sit till spring, then rototill and plant the vegetables. Dad had a fantastic vegetable garden. Our ground doesn’t freeze in winter

[@eyespyu9696]

We burned the leaves and then spread manure and let it rest til Spring. Didn't know what commercial fertilizer was til suburbanites moved in and put it on their lawns. They didn't grow vegetables, just grass and bushes. They would steal our vegetables and flowers. They were always spraying something. Now I bet they are organic this and that. My Dad use to spread ash on the driveway, it didn't freeze because it's potassium, it's what's in the more expensive de-icers. One hundred yrs ago they spread it on the roads. My grandfather drove the horse drawn snowplow and my Dad and uncle shoveled out cinders and ash out of the wagon part.

[@bobcollard11]

When I was a child over seventy years ago, I spent a lot of time in my grandparents garden. The back yard was split in half by a walk with one side or the other used for a garden while the opposite was used as a pile to burn tree limbs, leaves, paper trash and other waste. Each year the sides were switched, the ashes turned under and a greater crop was the results.

[@MetalSStar196]

That's interesting! My grandparents just had one designated burn pit on their farm that wasn't used for gardening, but instead for disposal of junk mail and the like. That was before and after the party-line was cut in the rural areas.

[@Soniatry]

That's genius.

[@TheMons26]

Brilliant!!

[@jasonturner269]

Watching this guy reduces my stress level. He's really quite zen

[@TreeFullz]

You're like the Australian Bob Ross of gardening! Can't wait to get to more of your videos. Thanks mate!

[@nancyfahey7518]

N shoots P roots K flowers and fruits

[@louf7178]

That's good

[@TANQ31]

As an aggie, you just made my day :)

[@nancyfahey7518]

I thought so when I first heard it. From a bonsai teacher on KZbin in Florida. But I'm sure he heard it from someone else too.

[@JeromeBakerSmoke]

A brief description i wrote years ago: There are a variety methods used to amend and improve soil fertility, which include aerating soil through the use of a hand plow, the addition of nitrogen through manure, and the fine-scale amendments-- L.A.R.K. One of the key pieces of information learned and passed down regards LARK. The L stands for limestone, a ammendment rich in Calcium which makes the soil less acidic and more alkaline.The A stands for Alfalfa Hay, a plant in the legume family, which adds nitrogen to the soil and thereby improves leaf formation and photosynthesis. This makes the growth of the plant more rigorous. The R in L.A.R.K stands for Rock Phosphate, and adds phosphorus to the soil, which helps with root formation and flower blooms. The more flower blooms on a plant, the more or the bigger fruit or vegetable you get. The last amendment, K, stands for Kelp. Kelp comes from the sea, and is high in Potassium, like potatoes or bananas. Potassium helps the transfer of nutrients in and out of the cell wall, as well as general cell formation.

[@НиколайДемьянин]

Silicon is important too

[@LtGlennHawk]

The little charcoal bits are also excellent in the garden as they also provide shelter and nutrition to the microbes needed for a healthy soil. Thanks for the video, it's great!

[@ziggybender9125]

only once they become inocculated, until then they are nutrient sponges that will absorb nutrients from surrounding soil for up to 2 years.

[@eddy8828]

One of my favourite gardening channels. Love everything about it. 👍👏❤️

[@ruthschrei7483]

I have enjoyed your videos so much!! You asked what else can you do with wood ash? Well, I'm a potter and I save my wood ash from my fire pit or fireplace , I sieve and mix it with water and if I spray it on my clay pots, the clay takes a beautiful color or colors in the firing. So, it is basically a glaze. Also, if mixed into a glaze it causes it to run... sometimes into beautiful drips on the pot. I thought you'd like to know!...

[@angelalewis3645]

I love this! ❤

[@amberlindsey5282]

Mark your definitely the most entertaining and maybe down to earth gardener to watch on KZbin. Keep it up your awesome. And also the video where you blew up the fake news was awesome. Dig down the rabbit hole and there’s ALOT MORE!

[@ellisctaylor74]

Brilliant! Which one was that, please? I'd like to link it on my blog. I love Mark's videos too.

[@Gik1618]

When I die, I have two requests: 1) I want my remains to be scattered around the garden 2) I don't want to be cremated

[@JodBronson]

Kinda Bipolar there !!!

[@boyscout6566]

Need a good quality cleaver....

[@JodBronson]

@@boyscout6566 - LOL

[@jimj9040]

That’s what they make wood chippers for... That and chipping wood.

[@jopalo31675]

No problem... never come across a body I couldn’t process. When will we be doing this. Should I just surprise you... friend?

[@slyaspie4934]

How have I only just found this channel, knowledge and dad jokes my favourites

[@DIYGardenIdeas]

I still use charcoal to make fertilizer for my plants, it's a great recipe.

[@SweetChicagoGator]

How do you apply your charcoal fertilizer & how much for your plants? 🤓

[@MikeSmith-ym9eq]

1. Charcoal ash is toxic; use untreated ash from wood instead. 2. Ash pH is very high, one reason that slash-and-burn works in rainforests (lots of organic matter plus small amounts of ash equals improved soil), but is death in unimproved desert soils (little organic matter plus ash equals chlorosis (plant disease caused by a high pH-created inability of plants to absorb iron) and other plant ailments.

[@SweetChicagoGator]

@@MikeSmith-ym9eq Ok. Less toxic, untreated ash from wood. Gotcha ! TFS !

[@woodzman991]

Loving the channel from the smoky mountains. Great advice big guy. Thanks for what you do

[@katalinhalom3267]

And I love the channel from Austria! Thank you from an old Hungarian - who, of course, can't cultivate tropical fruits and vegetables here, in the middle of Europe, but a lot of your advice is very practicable here too.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you Nathan! Cheers mate :)

[@truthhurtz2793]

How can you not absolutely LOVE this guy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kevinmurphy5409]

Dude, I know. For some reason I really like this guy. I think its the thumbs up he does.

[@peacebewithyou6048]

He's so nice . . . and has a LOVING heart!

[@nelsoncoronado3703]

He reminds me of a plant Steve Irwin.

[@chickencurry7642]

My grandma's sister's house is next to the railway station and on the old days before she'd bought that piece of land it was used as a dumping ground for ash from the steam locomotives. The portion with all the ashes from the coal, she had it covered with tons of soil and in the years to come it was the most nourishing part of her land and still is. She has never used any fertilizer and simply tills the land once a year. Over all this time she has grown tons of veggies in her garden and the soil has developed a beautiful blackish red tone. It holds moisture amazingly well and is still very 'breakable' to allow air passage which helpa develop the roots.

[@angelalewis3645]

That’s so cool!

[@brainfreeze1925]

I was under the assumption ash shouldn't be used. I use lump charcoal in the BBQ, not briquets. Most of the charcoal is made from maple trees. This video is an eye-opener . . . thanks and cheers!

[@veryimportantproduct]

Hi Mark! Your videos are awesome! Would you please include the frequency (own a season? Once a week?) that you roughly add ash to your gardens? It would be great to include frequency in all your videos. Thanks! Bethany in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

[@jamesragsdale3069]

We use ashes on Hydrangeas back home and it makes their flowers change colors! Just found your channel. Love it.

[@Doc1855]

For years we’ve added potash into our compost pile. It does help our vegetables grow bigger and taste better as well.

[@permacultureguy]

Mark man your videos are so helpful for younger folks like me. I really appreciate your passion

[@duchesscate7817]

I'm glad I stumbled upon ur channel. Covid made me try my hands doing some gardening. Thanks.

[@johnyboy1978]

3:38am and I'm learning bout potash and gardens

[@mazorizk]

got an exam tmr. help

[@singhtoking]

3.57am here😂😂

[@looloo4029]

It’s never too late to learn life skills.

[@Lunadare]

3:17am 1-29-20 🤣

[@jacquelinehelton2197]

On a side note, if u put some potash down when planting potatoes they grow really good and produce more tubers, the potatoes need the potassium to grow good. I've used it for years and my potatoes have done great. Roots take off quickly and bunches of them co m e on the tuber quickly

[@frankforest8139]

Excellent video! I have been using my woodstove ash in my garden for years. A friend told me a long time ago it's great for most plants, but pepper plants really thrive with some ash.

[@andyrix54]

In the novel "Roots" by Alex Haley, before the capture of the family, Alex discusses how the tribe grows rice and harvests it. Right before the rainy season, at the end of the dry season, the tribe sets the fields on fire, reducing the dried stalks to ash, fertilizing the next crop. I hope I got that right, it's been decades since I read the novel.

[@poetsrear]

Idea: place charcoal into the soil mix when preparing it. It serves better spread throughout the medium and thus really activates the benefits mentioned. The finer ash works well on the top, because it will drain through with watering.

[@jojobrew4798]

I just love your channel, over the years I've wanted to grow my own veggies but just haven't had the guts to go full on into it, you have kick started me wanting to just go for it, I'm 45km from my closest town and 2 hrs from places like Bunnings so I'll start small and work my way up.. gosh I hope I have success like my roses. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@haroldthemighty2119]

Just a thought, to distribute the ash over your plants, rather than doing it in handfuls you could use a bucket with holes in the bottom to shake it over more evenly and faster. Or a wide gapped sieve!

[@twodollars9883]

That’s kind of what I was thinking or maybe even mix it in some water and water your plants the ash

[@haroldthemighty2119]

@@twodollars9883 another good idea :)

[@Ev1LAngeLXIII]

Love your videos champ. My grandfather planted fruits & veggies all his life. His back yard looked like a tropical rainforest Feijoas, oranges, plums, peaches, lemons, taro, spuds, kumara, onions, spring onions, garlic, mind you back in the mid 50's in NZ every body was growing their own food, now sadly most go to the local supermarket.

[@preciousmetalhead5155]

We just burned a tree that fell. I did exactly this and also have been adding it to my compost. Excellent timing for this video.

[@realdamageboy]

Hello From Latvia ! we are norther country, and from ancient times in spring we cower snowy fields with ash to get rid of snow faster, and also it fertilizes the ground as You show .

[@clockdragon515]

Good video ! Tho i would recommend to scatter around the ash very early in the year so the microbial life can make all that good stuff available to the plants ! (don't wait for an immediate result after scattering the ash). The use of charcoal is very good for capting all good nutrients ! but it doesn't come with any from the beginning, so if you scatter some in your soil immediatly, it will actually deplete the reserves in the soil... so i would put the charcoal in your compost for better retainability of the elements or to let the charcoal sit in urine overnight to let it absord all the nitrogen it needs to be "charged". Hope this helps !

[@EccentricNature]

It's so true! Volcanic areas have some of the most lush and prosperous plant life in the world!

[@Sartheris]

No surprise, lava takes out literally all the minerals from the earths crust

[@EccentricNature]

@@Sartheris the ultimate earth tilling. 🌱😊🌱

[@thedevilsadvocate5210]

You should take a look above my septic tank

[@KG-lr2vq]

I love this. Thank you for making it very clear what vegetables and fruits ash is used to fertilize and what it is not used to fertilize. I was also scared of using it in the garden, because I thought I would burn my plants and you showing us how to do it helps a beginner like me so much. I am so thankful for this info.

[@jenniferwhorley6805]

I've been doing this with my hardwood charcoal ash for ages. Great way to clear the pit and the plants love it. Didn't know avocado liked it. Next time I fire up the bbq I'll bring my potted avocado a handful. Northern Ontario. Avos don't fare well out doors. He's happy being an indoor avo where he gets all the attention. Thanks for a great video!

[@bobysuryayuliavera]

the land in my area is very fertile because normally, every five years there is volcano that emit volcanic dust. Very good for the soil but kind of dangerous tho

[@stardust9072]

good for garlic