[Just Dahlia]

I've been looking into uses for my fireplace ashes.
So far I think I have found out that if I save them and sprinkle lightly over lawn. Good:)
Blueberries. Bad:(
Compost only small amounts.:confused:

I'm going to save mine in a small metal garbage bag and look more into it.
If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.:D

[KUXJ]

If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.:D

Wood ash has a lot of uses. Here are just a few suggestions.

• A fertilizer for the yard and garden. Wood ash contains 10-25% calcium, 1-4% magnesium, 5-15% potassium and 1-3% phosphorus. This makes it a good (0-2-10) fertilizer for the garden.
  
  
• The types of wood you burn does play a role in the amount of nutrients it contains. Hardwoods generally produce 3 times more ash that contains 5 times more nutrients than softwoods.
  
  
• Ash will temporarily change (increase) the pH of garden soil, so you should only use it sparingly and not at all if your soil pH is already over 7.0. Two pounds of wood ash equals about 1 pound of ground limestone.
  
  
• When used as a fertilizer, wood ash should be applied at least two months before high nitrogen fertilizers because it promotes the loss of nitrogen from ammonia-based fertilizers. Don't use wood ash on acidic-loving plants like rhododendron, blueberries (As you found out) or azaleas and don't add wood ash to the compost pile.
  
  
• Deodorizing. When your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, a little ash rubbed into its coat will help neutralize the smell.
  
  
• Control pond algae. One tablespoon per 1,000 gallons adds enough potassium to strengthen other aquatic plants that compete with algae, slowing its growth,
  
  
• Pump up tomatoes. For the calcium-loving plants, place 1/4 cup right in the hole when planting,
  
  
• Roses, use the tom recipe above.
  
  
• Wood ash can be rubbed over metal to polish it. It can also remove moisture rings from most wood surfaces.
  
  
• As a glass cleaner. Wood ash is a key ingredient in lye soap. It can be mixed with a bit of water (or dabbed on a damp sponge) and used to clean dirty fireplace doors.
  
  
• Make soap. Soaking ashes in water makes lye, which can be mixed with animal fat and then boiled to produce soap. Salt makes it harden as it cools.
  
  
• As an insect repellent. Sprinkle small amounts around the perimeter of your garden to deter slugs and snails.
  
  
• As a spot remover on wood furniture. Mix it in with a small amount of water until you create a paste. Rub over rings left by water glasses or hot beverages, and follow up with a furniture polish. Test on a small area first.
• Shine silver. A paste of ash and water makes a dandy nontoxic metal polisher.
  
  
• As traction. In the winter, sprinkle wood ash on slippery walkways or driveways to improve traction. Wipe you feet before going inside, because the ashes will easily track indoors.
  
  
• Hide stains on paving. Ash absorbs wet paint spatters on cement by sprinkling ash directly on the spot; it blends in with a scuff of your shoe or boot.
  
  
• You add it to any kind of glue and it makes it stick harder

Since your being frugal wood ash is last:
Make Your Own Fertilizer - Homemade Fertilizer Recipes

And remember not to burn trash, paper, or pressure treated wood in your fireplace or the toxins from those items will end up on you.


K :)

[Just Dahlia]

Quote::And remember not to burn trash, paper, or pressure treated wood in your fireplace or the toxins from those items will end up on you.::

I use news paper to start my fire and sometimes use a small starter log to get it going? Can I still use my ashes?

I love that I can use it for the roses, tomatoes and the pond... and insect repellent.:D
I never knew this and have always been tossing it.

I knew the Epsom salt was good, but never had a recipe. Thanks:D
I will add it to my household cleaner recipes that I use everyday. It's amazing the money you can save mixing a few things and they work as good or better. I haven't bought cleaners in a long time and saved myself hundreds.
I also use newspaper for cleaning mirrors and windows and I can't believe how clean the become.:D I think I should have been born in the 1900's.:rolleyes:

EDIT:: The agree/Disagree thing is freaking me out a little bit :)

[KUXJ]

Quote::And remember not to burn trash, paper, or pressure treated wood in your fireplace or the toxins from those items will end up on you.::

I use news paper to start my fire and sometimes use a small starter log to get it going? Can I still use my ashes?

Depends... How much you burnin', a weeks worth? eddie git outta' 'ere:o
Even though the Newspaper Industry standard has been to moved to water solvent inks for newspapers. I can not verify the same standards for the Commercial Printing Industry, so... I've always advised not to burn any of the free standing advertisements that one would receive in their daily newspaper, bundle them, and recycle. You know, all that shiny stuff.
They are often printed on a denser, glossier paper, and require a more penetrating ink. The color comics printed simultaneously with your daily are an exception.
Newspaper Periodicals like USAToday could fall in to this category, again, They are often printed on a denser, glossier paper, and require a more penetrating ink.

I love that I can use it for the roses, tomatoes and the pond...and insect repellent.:D
I never knew this and have always been tossing it.

Just be careful using wet ashes... That starts the lye process...

I knew the Epsom salt was good, but never had a recipe. Thanks
I will add it to my household cleaner recipes that I use everyday. It's amazing the money you can save mixing a few things and they work as good or better. I haven't bought cleaners in a long time and saved myself hundreds.
I also use newspaper for cleaning mirrors and windows and I can't believe how clean the become.:D I think I should have been born in the 1900's.:rolleyes:

... :rolleyes:... I think it is 1cp Vinegar to one of those spray bottles O' water

EDIT:: The agree/Disagree thing is freaking me out a little bit :)

Are you still having trouble?
What are you using to get on the Internet?


K

[Just Dahlia]

Quote::Are you still having trouble?
What are you using to get on the Internet?

No, I have no trouble, just fear change, and it changed.:eek:


I never use the shiny paper in the fire place and tell DH not to use it, hopefully he listens to me.:rolleyes:

I put a little of the ash in the compost bin:eek: tomorrow I will get some dry leaves to throw in and stir it all up and then throw something else on top. The only dry thing I have at this point is shredded paper (not glossy):)
It's still raining and we are expected to get another storm in 2 days.:mad: It's getting very icky to deal with, but I have my puppies:D

[Just Dahlia]

I just planted my seeds and now I am waiting.:) ::tap tap taping foot impatiently:::rolleyes:

I've scoped out all the areas that I can put my babies and I need to make some raised beds out of some old wood and some that I will buy on Saturday morning.

Looseleaf blend of Lettuce
Italian Parsley
Cilantro
Basil
Dill (some now some later) I can always use the seeds.
Summer Salsa tomato (Roma)
Super Beefsteak tomato
Hybrid Big Boy

I'm determined to have so many tomatoes that I won't know what to do with them (won't happen)
I just planted what is too high priced in the store that I always use. Hopefully it will work out. The greenhouse is in the kitchen right now, but my house is usually always around 65 degrees and I'm wondering if that is warm enough. I do have a hot pad to plug in or I could use a sock full of rice nuked at night.:confused: Maybe 65 is OK.

I still haven't pulled my old tomatoes out yet. The weather went from great to crap too quickly and my green waste is filled with Rose clippings now. I trimmed mine and some of my neighbors (they never do it) and then hid inside.:o So far no one has said anything:rolleyes: After Thursday (if it's not raining) I can get rid of the old tomato plants.

[KUXJ]

Hi JD,

I just planted my seeds and now I am waiting.:) ::tap tap taping foot impatiently:::rolleyes:

eddie got a chuckle out of that :p

The greenhouse is in the kitchen right now, but my house is usually always around 65 degrees and I'm wondering if that is warm enough. I do have a hot pad to plug in or I could use a sock full of rice nuked at night.:confused: Maybe 65 is OK.

During the day the kitchen should be fine (it's usually one of the warmer rooms of a house). At night though you'd do well to try and raise that 65 another 10°
See :
Soil Temperature Conditions for
Vegetable Seed Germination

Even though your thermostat may say it's set at 65 it could be lower.
Do you have a small thermometer to place nearby the seed trays?
Take readings for a couple of days to see what the seedlings micro-climate is, and adjust accordingly.
If you have one of those indoor/outdoor type just lay the outdoor sensor on top of the soil... come back in ten minutes to check the reading.

I still haven't pulled my old tomatoes out yet. The weather went from great to crap too quickly and my green waste is filled with Rose clippings now. I trimmed mine and some of my neighbors (they never do it) and then hid inside.:o So far no one has said anything After Thursday (if it's not raining) I can get rid of the old tomato plants.

We just had 4" of snow Wednesday, and are looking at 12 or better for Saturday.
I hear a weekly succession of big snows for us until the first week of March :(

[Just Dahlia]

Hi JD,

eddie got a chuckle outta that :p

During the day the kitchen should be fine (it's usually one of the warmer rooms of a house). At night though you'd do well to try and raise that 65 another 10°
See :
Soil Temperature Conditions for
Vegetable Seed Germination

Even though your thermostat may say it's set at 65 it could be lower.
Do you have a small thermometer to place nearby the seed trays?
Take readings for a couple of days to see what the seedlings micro-climate is, and adjust accordingly.
If you have one of those indoor/outdoor type just lay the outdoor sensor on top of the soil....come back in ten minutes to check the reading.



We just had 4" of snow Wednesday, and are looking at 12 or better for Saturday.
I hear a weekly succession of big snows for us until the first week of March :(

I can't read that:eek: Too small or I'm too old. I'll try to come up with a way to warm the area up a little at night.

I'm sorry about the snow:( Your going to be stuck in for a while, hope you have plenty of wood:)

[KUXJ]

Hey! Watch that old stuff...

Not much I can do 'bout that, but... JD, if by

I can't read that :eek:

you mean the link I provided, it opens up in Adobe Reader does it not?

Well, up in the left center of the tool bar of the reader you'll see two circle's one has a minus - , and one has a plus + , click on the + until you get it to a percentage that is comfortable for you.



There is also a drop-down box there, click on the down arrow, any percentage from 100 to 200 is good, then use the scroll bars to position the document to where you can read it.

This is a pretty universal display for magnification tools, sometimes you may see a little magnifying glass instead.

I'm sorry about the snow Your going to be stuck in for a while, hope you have plenty of wood

We'll be allright, when the DW gets home from work we're going out to grab a few things. We're still stocked up from the holidays.

I just might make some sugar cookies when we get back...

[Just Dahlia]

I have moved my seedlings into the bathroom (I have a heater in there and a door to close) I keep the heat in the house 60 at night and hardly turn on during the day (I hate to be hot) good thing I live in California:rolleyes:

In the bath I can turn the timer on for however long I want and then keep the door closed and it stays warm in there for a long time. DH promises not to mess with the babies:)

Once our storms are over, it will warm up here.

[Just Dahlia]

I forgot:D Save me some sugar cookies, I like a little icing on mine please:D

[KUXJ]

DH promises not to mess with the babies :)

DH should be nominated for sainthood ;)

I forgot :D Save me some sugar cookies

I do sprinkles, and Pecans also :)

[Just Dahlia]

I got all my old dead tomatoes in the 'green waste' bin.
I chopped off the top of all the bananas in the back yard.
Pulled a lot of weeds.
Made 3 different raised wood beds for planting.
Fixed my poor fake palm trees (from the wind)
Trimmed and threw away a bunch of jade
Put 4 cf of bark in the 'way' back yard
Made and canned some BBQ sauce:rolleyes:

And watched the Saints win:D

[KUXJ]

I spent 4hours blowin' snow... :(

Made carrot cake with sour cream icing... :)

And watched the Colts lose... :(

Well... Some of the game. I don't know, I
Just can't get into it like I use to.

AND, there's 6to12 coming Tuesday night... :(

[Just Dahlia]

Pictures of snow! I need pictures of snow:D
I love snow, especially when I am not there:rolleyes:

Alty had some great ones in 'pictures out your front door' thread.:)

I'm sorry your Colts lost, I'm not a big football fan. I actually could care less who wins as long as they don't show any of the losers. I feel so sorry for them I cry. The only sports that I actually paid attention to was hockey (only because my son plays) but I don't care about any team except for the one my son is on.:rolleyes:

I leveled out one of my raised beds today and emptied out some soil from other things. We are getting rain on Tuesday, so I will have to wait till Wednesday to do more.

[Just Dahlia]

I moved the seedling into the kitchen because I took a light from my turtle (she got a new one)
I'm keeping ever thing close enough to keep warm, but not burn and I put a cloth over the top, so there is not too much light.
The dome is propped at this point because some of the seedlings have emerged and some (lettuce) look a little leggy, but true leaves haven't appeared yet.
I won't pretend to know what I'm doing, because I always start seeds outside, so if any one wants to tell me what not to do, go for it.:rolleyes::)

I put in another bed for the strawberries this afternoon and I might be able to put the strawberries in there tomorrow.

I bought a bunch of bulbs 75% off yesterday and they are in the fridge doing there chilling hours. I'll plant next week. But I'm going back tomorrow to buy more:rolleyes: I love flowers:D

[Just Dahlia]

My seedlings seem to be getting leggy... OK they are leggy:rolleyes:
When they were in the bath, they had pretty much no light, but warmth.
Moved them to the kitchen and propped the top a little. They are underneath a warm light, but I have a towel on the top. (so no light) have to wet the towel everyday, so the house doesn't burn down.

I am not supposed to take the top off until all have sprouted. (according to directions) Should I give them the light:eek: They seem to be wanting to reach for the light that they can't see, but know is there.:D

Should I pinch some back:confused:

I'm thinking in about 3 days all will be sprouted and I can take the top off, should I wait and see what happens?

HELP! I've never done this inside before.

[Just Dahlia]

OK, I understand I am talking to myself now:rolleyes: but...
I moved my Key lime to a better location this afternoon and organized my potting bench. Saturday I believe I will put my Kumquat in the ground, I'm feeling sorry for it, even though it has been really good to me for the past 4 years.

I have a 10 year old slave coming by on Sat. afternoon, so I might get a lot done. I should start a list for her:)

[KUXJ]

I couldn't hear you... My snowblower was running :)

My seedlings seem to be getting leggy... OK they are leggy:rolleyes:
When they were in the bath, they had pretty much no light, but warmth.
Moved them to the kitchen and propped the top a little. They are underneath a warm light, but I have a towel on the top. (so no light) have to wet the towel everyday, so the house doesn't burn down.

I am not supposed to take the top off until all have sprouted. (according to directions) Should I give them the light:eek: They seem to be wanting to reach for the light that they can't see, but know is there.:D

Your instincts are correct, the seedlings are “stretching” for the light.
Are your lights strong, and close (within inches) .
Are you keeping them on for a minimum of 14 hrs a day? Insufficient light is the only reason for leggy seedlings.

Should I pinch some back

Only if they are flower seedlings. Vegetable seedlings will be harmed by pinching.

Never touch a seedling's stem when transplanting, leaves can handle some crushing, but if you crush the stems vascular system it will perish.

I'm thinking in about 3 days all will be sprouted and I can take the top off, should I wait and see what happens?

HELP! I've never done this inside before.

Yes wait, and light! light! light! add more light! 24Hours a day if you can.

[Just Dahlia]

Your instincts are correct, the seedlings are “stretching” for the light.
Are your lights strong, and close (within inches) .
Are you keeping them on for a minimum of 14 hrs a day? Insufficient light is the only reason for leggy seedlings.

My light is with 5 inches, but I have kept the towel over the top. Should I take the towel off?
Or should I wait until all have sprouted? It is just a Halogen light for warmth. It's not really sun light
Or does that not matter?

I got the pictures of the beautiful snow, but haven't had a chance to look at them all closely. (I did like the one of you starting down the porch (sidewalk) Like an Eskimo:D
My G-D Daughter is spending the weekend. I'm using her as a slave:) We have already got rid of the mushroom on the rug and will start on our list at 7 am.