Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rtech.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!gymble!lll-crg!dual!unisoft!mtxinu!rtech!jeff
From: jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman)
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: Lilac Fertilizer
Message-ID: <417@rtech.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-May-85 04:43:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: rtech.417
Posted: Tue May 21 04:43:55 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 24-May-85 20:45:57 EDT
References: <25900010@gypsy.UUCP>
Organization: Relational Technology, Alameda CA
Lines: 25

> 
> A question about lilacs and wood ashes:
> 
> Speaking of lilacs, I've heard that wood or charcoal ashes are
> especially beneficial as lilac fertilizer.  Aside from the fact 
> that potassium is generally good for flowering plants, is there
> any particular reason to use ashes for lilacs?
> 
> Also, should ashes be just as beneficial to  other deciduous 
> flowering shrubs like forsythia, quince, etc?
> What about deciduous azaleas (Exburies)?

Lilacs like alkaline soil.  Ashes will make your soil more alkaline.

I recommend against using ashes for azaleas, because these like acid
soil.  The Sunset Western Garden Book says that quince may suffer from
chlorosis in alkaline soils.  I don't know what forsythia likes.

Ashes in the soil will make carrots taste sweeter.
-- 
Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)
aka Swazoo Koolak

{amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff
{ucbvax, decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff