Hort Moment

Fall is approaching and soon some of our members will be lighting fires in their fireplace or in a wood-burning stove.   That made me wonder, “Is wood ash good for my garden?”  The answer, of course, depends.  Wood ash is alkaline, so if you have acid soil, adding wood ash to your compost or to your garden could be helpful as long as it comes from untreated wood.  It is a fine idea to test your garden rather than guess what your soil conditions are.  Soil test kits are readily available from the county extension service and can also be found online.

 Another question that might surface at this time of year: “Are there any bulbs or rhizomes that can tolerate wet conditions?”  Camassia (wild hyacinth) will grow in wet soil if it is not too acid.  Japanese Iris will grow in damp soil and can take acid soil as well.