New to composting, can I use peat ashes? Any other advice?

emeraldeye

Hi, I'm about to start my first compost bin; I've read bits and pieces on the internet about what to put in and it's location.

I read that coal ashes are not good, but I couldn't find any information about peat ashes, so wondered if anyone has any advice?

Or if you have any other tips for starting a compost bin please let me know; thanks for any help/advice.

magicbastarder

ashes won't really help the composting process, and i'd be concerned about them turning the compost heap too alkaline.
coal ashes are not good due to being toxic, with chemicals which are not found in peat ash.

emeraldeye

magicbastarder wrote: »

ashes won't really help the composting process, and i'd be concerned about them turning the compost heap too alkaline.
coal ashes are not good due to being toxic, with chemicals which are not found in peat ash.

Thanks very much, looks like they're going in the black bin then unless there's some other use for them?

looksee

Not really, they are extremely fine and tend to turn to slime if they get wet.

magicbastarder

you could sprinkle them around the garden, but you don't want to create piles.

magicbastarder

also, the only good thing about turf as a fuel is the smell.

emeraldeye

Thanks, I may have a go at sprinkling them around the garden sometime, but I'll make sure it's not too windy ;-)

Also, I think I'm going to get an ash vacuum cleaner aswell, as emptying the ash pit usually ends in a sand storm.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Peat ash adds potassium to the compost heap. Provided it's not huge volumes it's as good as any plant ash.

emeraldeye

Jaxson Lazy Shrewdness wrote: »

Peat ash adds potassium to the compost heap. Provided it's not huge volumes it's as good as any plant ash.

Thanks that's interesting, perhaps a little in the garden and some in the compost may be good

Day Lewin

I sprinkle it around my raspberries and shake a little into the compost, or over a recently planted area. Its true about turning to a slimy slab if a big lump of it gets wet. But it tends to vanish, will be gone this time next year.
If you're in a bogland area, there's something nice about returning the minerals to where they came from. Use it to fill in holes of hedges, etc.

emeraldeye

Day Lewin wrote: »

I sprinkle it around my raspberries and shake a little into the compost, or over a recently planted area. Its true about turning to a slimy slab if a big lump of it gets wet. But it tends to vanish, will be gone this time next year.
If you're in a bogland area, there's something nice about returning the minerals to where they came from. Use it to fill in holes of hedges, etc.

Thanks, I think I might store the ashes somewhere (dry) in the meantime

Hocus Focus

A small amount of peat or wood ash is ok, forked into the compost. you can scatter it over beds, particularly those you are just about to dig. The potassium helps many plants.