Is Wood Ash Good for Roses? Which Roses, When, and How Much

Those of us that love growing roses feel the urge to give them everything they need to help them thrive and generate a glorious bloom. So we’ll try lots of different fertilizers and magic nutrients. One option is wood ash. But is wood ash good for roses?

That’s what we’re going to explore in this article and I’ll let you know what I do as a rose grower.

Roses love wood ash as it provides the exact nutrients that help them thrive. Roses love the potassium and phosphorous that wood ash brings. Wood ash also provides magnesium, nitrogen, and calcium. Add only to specific roses, sprinkle 2 tablespoons in Spring, and do not apply to leaves and roots.

But there are nuances to when and where you should use wood ash. So we’ll go through which roses to add wood ash to. When to add wood ash and how much wood ash for roses to add to the soil – oh, and how to add the wood ash

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Many rose varieties benefit from wood ash, particularly from the potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorous nutrients.

Wood ash for roses also helps them thrive by providing other minerals and nutrients that roses crave. Including magnesium, and calcium.

Avoid adding too often and do not use it on young roses as it may burn the roots.

That’s the summary, and below I’ve added a quick summary table for you.

When to add wood ash to roses	Ideally, Spring and can re-apply mid Fall
Which roses to add wood ash to	English roses, Floribundas, Grandifloras, shrub roses, and David Austin roses
Which roses not to add wood ash to	Climbing roses, Hybrid tea roses, Miniature roses, and Old garden roses
How much wood ash to add	1/4 cup, two tablespoons of wood ash per square foot of soil.
Symptoms of too much wood ash	Yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and wilting

Let’s look at which roses like wood ash…

Do roses like wood ash?

The answer is, that some roses like wood ash and some don’t. That’s because wood ash is alkaline with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.

Roses that prefer slightly more acidic soil, such as hybrid teas, will not do well if you add wood ash to the soil around them. In fact, it could stop them from growing.

These roses like a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. So if you have roses that prefer acidic soil, don’t use wood ash.

The nutrients in wood ash

Wood ash is full of nutrients that are beneficial to roses. These include potassium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and magnesium. These nutrients help promote healthy growth, strong roots, and abundant blooms.

Sifted wood ash is great because there are no lumps that need to break down.

You can check the availability of Sifted Wood Ash here on Amazon.

Which roses like wood ash

Ideally, you want to add wood ash to roses that thrive in alkaline soil.

In truth, all types of roses can benefit from wood ash to some degree, but it’s especially beneficial for those that are seasoned towards more alkaline soils.

Roses that are grown in acidic soils already have plenty of aluminum and other nutrients that wood ash contains, so they don’t need any more than the soil already provides.

Wood ash alkaline levels benefit some roses more than others

The issue is that wood ash has a very high alkaline content at around 9 …a very high alkaline level. So it’s important not to add too much – more on that later. Therefore, we ideally need to reduce the alkaline level.

You can reduce the 9 (highly alkaline) down to between 5-6 alkaline by first adding your wood ash to water, and letting it stand for 24-48 hours. It may not look nice, but it will naturally reduce the extreme alkaline to one more appropriate for roses.

To find out the pH of your soil, you can buy a soil test kit at a garden center, or just get this simple test kit that I use available from amazon.

Let’s move on to how much wood ash to use, and when and where to add it.

When to add wood ash to roses

You should apply wood ash to roses in early spring – before new growth begins. This is because the nutrients in wood ash are best absorbed by plants when they are actively growing rather than when they are moving towards dormancy.

How much wood ash should you use?

A general rule of thumb to use when sprinkling wood ash into the soil is to use two tablespoons of wood ash per square foot of soil. If your roses are particularly large or you have a lot of them, you can increase this amount to four tablespoons per square foot.

Just be careful not to add too much wood ash to the soil as this can lead to problems such as leaf burn, which is when the leaves of the plant turn brown and crispy.

This is most likely to happen if you add wood ash to dry soil or if the plant is already stressed from other factors such as drought.

Another good point about wood ash is that it won’t bring any weeds along with it as all organic matter is destroyed in the fire. So unlike compost at least you won’t be encouraging new weeds to appear.

When is the best time to add wood ash to roses?

The best time to add wood ash to roses is in early spring before new growth begins. This will give the plants a chance to absorb the nutrients from the wood ash before they start putting all their energy into new growth.

However, this is not a hard rule. The spring is best, but you can add wood ash every three to four months – just avoid later in the year. So for me, I tend to add wood ash in the spring, and then sometimes once as fall is approaching.

How to add wood ash for roses?

Here’s a simple step-by-step approach to adding wood ash to roses:

1. Wait for a day after a wood fire when the ashes have cooled down.
2. Collect the ashes in a metal container.
3. Add water to the ashes and leave for 24-48 hours to reduce alkaline levels.
4. Spread 1/4 cup of the ash mixture around the base of the rose bush
5. Do not apply to the leaves, or too near the roots of the rose
6. Where possible ensure it is evenly spread, and mix in with a trowel if necessary.
7. Water the area well so that the ashes are washed into the soil
8. Add any remaining wood ash to your compost heap.
9. Enjoy wonderful nutrient-boosted roses!

Adding wood ash to roses in pots

When adding wood ash to roses in pots, such as indoor miniature roses, take care not to add too much.

A general rule is 1/4 cup per gallon of soil. But use less of it if you think that might be too much for the size of the plant. And avoid using wood ash on young roses. Wait until they’re around 2 years old. And remember to test the soil pH as they may not need it.

As with garden roses, apply the wood ash around the base of the plant, taking care not to get any on the leaves or root base.

Water well so that the ashes are washed into the soil.

Signs of too much wood ash in the soil include

It’s easy to add too much wood ash to your roses. It’s always better to follow the rule of adding less than you think. As it’s easier to add more than to remove too much.

Some signs that there may be too much wood ash in the soil include yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and wilting. If you suspect your soil has too much wood ash, leach the area with plenty of water to remove some of the excess wood ash effects.

Repeat this process several times until you see the plants start to recover – but also try not to overwater.

This is, of course, not the results you wanted to achieve.

Don’t be put off trying this though, the nutrients in wood ash make it a good amendment for rose gardens. Wood ash is high in potassium and calcium, which are essential nutrients for roses.

In addition, wood ash also contains other minerals that roses need, such as magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium. Just take it easy with the amount.

Should wood ash be applied to young roses?

It is best to wait until roses are at least two years old before applying wood ash. This is because the high potassium content in wood ash can encourage too much growth in young plants, leading to weak, spindly growth.

Which wood ash is best to use for roses?

All wood ash is good for roses, but it’s best to use wood ash from hardwoods, such as oak or beech. This is because hardwood ashes tend to contain more nutrients than softwood ashes.

This is easier said than done in a garden setting, as we can’t always dictate which woods we can burn in order to gain the nutrients.

Does wood ash affect plants around roses?

Wood ash is beneficial to roses, but in general, other plants may also benefit. Using wood ash should not harm other plants or companion plants in your garden.

A good side effect might also be that any leaf-based weeds around your roses may die off due to the wood ash.

Is wood ash good for roses? ~ More roses help 🌹

So is wood ash good for roses? Yes! Wood ash is a great way to add extra nutrients to the soil around your roses. It is also a good way to add extra potassium to the soil, which is essential for strong and healthy growth.

However, it is important to use wood ash in moderation. Too much wood ash can actually be harmful to roses – particularly young roses. Follow a few simple guidelines and it will really help your roses to bloom!

I hope that answers the question “is wood ash good for roses.” You might also like to read my other similar articles about what you can add to boost your roses. And check out my tools and resources page too.