The Penn State Extension of Berks County Master Gardeners will be featuring questions and answers to inquiries received through their Garden Hotline. Q: I have a wood burning fireplace. Is it safe to ...

We write about this topic every year because, quite frankly, there’s a lot of misinformation on the internet about the benefits of using fireplace ashes in your garden. And, since we are entering ...

Wood ashes can be a valuable resource for amending garden soil. Anyone using a fireplace or wood stove knows that a large amount of wood ashes can accumulate over a heating season. When applied under ...

Ashes contain nutrients like potassium, magnesium and calcium that improve garden soil naturally. “I use a lot of ashes in my garden,” says Wilczek, as it can eliminate the need for chemical ...

When using ash, be careful not to put too much into your soil. Because ash is highly alkaline, using high amounts can throw off your soil’s balance. Skip using ash around acid-loving plants such as ...