Bit of a long shot but can only ask!

Biomass ash can be used on the garden as a soil conditioner and in you compost heap, but do use it sparingly. I would only recommend using between 50-75grams per square metre on the garden and I would folk into the ground. Ash when wet produces salts which will leach into the soil, so don't be putting it on the garden if you plan to sow seeds shortly after. There is so much being burnt for biomass these days that I would be reluctant to recommend using it, unless you knew exactly what was being burnt.

Hardwoods contain more P and K than softwoods, was the wood treated, was chemicals adding to bind the wood into pellets, hence why its recommended to use it sparingly.

 

Thank you gks, very informative. All I know is my friends have an enormous biomass boiler and have to use special pellets which you can only buy from 2 sources. Maybe this is just in Scotland where I am situated? The pellets have to be kept dry and it all sounds a bit of a do to be honest. I know the wife is not too thrilled on the set up but they did get some kind of enormous grant to put the system in. I think I am right that the majority of the pellets come from the USA. Hmm sounds like another of these fantastic so called green schemes if I am correct. Wonder if anybody has added to the equation the amount of pollutants in creating the pellets in the first place and diesel needed to ship them across the Atlantic! Somewhat in the same vein as what is required to manufacture and erect wind turbines but don’t get me started on that subject.

 

Here’s how the experiment is going.

All looks ok to me from the point of view of using the compost. The only thing different between the “ control” of Jack’s Magic and the compost with biomass ash in it is re the Mange Tout, 2 seeds rotted off in the compost while only 1 did in the control. Too early yet or safe to use?

 

The compost I got from my pal is biomass ash mixed with mainly a shed load of grass clippings. How well it is “ mixed” I have not a clue. There were a few chunks that seemed very sticky which I think will be a good doze of ash so it would appear to me that if I just keep an eye out for stodgy clumps what I have already got, going to get it should be ok for the purpose I need it for.

 

No JWK, I just used what I had got to see if it was lethal or otherise. Luckily, it appears fine so might use a little( loathed to use too much!) of my lovely leaf mould mixed in plus some old compost from baskets of toms, my melons etc. The compost does not need to be great as it is purely needed to keep mostly herbaceous in pots over winter when they are not growing anyway. Next year the plants will be planted out so what I have should do the job. I just hope I have enough as now it has bucketed down, where the compost heap is I could see me getting my van stuck if I need to get more.