Ashes for Pest Control

[Mr A]

I just read a gardening article that says wood ash repels slugs and snails, and other insects. Has anyone used wood ash on their firewood stacks, how were your results? I don't see any harm in it. I usually spread them about anyway.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1581470,00.html

 

[James02]

Good stuff...thanks

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Helps with the cut worms too. Was at a friends house a couple days ago and he has a OWB. He has piles ashes about 3-4" deep all the way around his garden. Naturally with the OWB, he gets lots of ashes too. We did not get a whole lot of ash this year but it will go on the garden.

 

[xman23]

Tell me it works for carpenter ants. This is ant season here and I hate using any pesticides.

Tom

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I doubt that it would work for those ants but worth a try.

 

[midwestcoast]

It works on slugs, worms & snails because it's so basic that crawling through it will "burn" their moist skin. Ants or anything with an exoskeleton with likely be un-affected.
Try a barrier of Diatomaceous Earth for them (it pierces their exoskeleton).

 

[xman23]

It works on slugs, worms & snails because it's so basic that crawling through it will "burn" their moist skin. Ants or anything with an exoskeleton with likely be un-affected.
Try a barrier of Diatomaceous Earth for them (it pierces their exoskeleton).

I have been useing DE for years. Just coated the foundation with 3 boxes, today. The house looks like it has a bad habit. It works for a while, until it gets hit with rain.

 

[midwestcoast]

I have been useing DE for years. Just coated the foundation with 3 boxes, today. The house looks like it has a bad habit. It works for a while, until it gets hit with rain.

Ashes have to be re-applied after rain as well