Gardening expert Simon Akeroyd outlined the unlikely household byproduct that you can use to get your garden looking tip top. Here’s everything you need to know
There are plenty of unlikely items in your home that you can use to spruce up your garden.
Compostable items like tea bags, coffee grounds and potato peels are great for helping plants flourish. But did you know, you can also use soot from fireplaces?
As the cold weather draws in, many of us will have this ash lying around. So instead of chucking it away, make use of the byproduct.
Simon Akeroyd, a gardening author who has written more than 30 gardening guide books, told his followers: “If you have a log burning stove or a real fire in your house, don’t forget to recycle the wood ash by spreading them around your fruit trees.
“Next time you have a fire, whether it’s a log burner to save on your heating bills or a beautiful real fire, gather up the wood ash the next day because it’s high in potassium – one of the three main plant nutrients.”
Explaining how to utilise the ash, Simon said to sprinkle it around your plants and “they will thrive”. Don’t be too generous with the product, though.
He warned: “Don’t add too much though as it can have a high pH making your soil too alkaline! If you are worried just mix it into your compost where it won’t affect the pH so much.”
You can start collecting fire ashes now and spreading them on your plants – but the best time to implement the hack is during springtime.
Simon revealed it’s “when the plant needs it most”. And people agree that the method can be incredibly easy and effective.
One responder said: “It works wonders on my apple trees.” And another commented: “Good for helping to keep slugs and snails off vegetable plants too.”
Meanwhile, a fan asked: “Is this why trees that thrive after forest fires do so well?” And Simon responded: “I’m sure it must help with their regeneration.”
Have you tried the gardening trick? Get in touch at Lucy.Marshall@reachplc.com.
