Question: are wood ashes acidic or basic?
Answer: Wood ashes from the fireplace or wood stove may be used to supply both calcium and potassium to soil. The pH level of soil is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. Target pH for growing a garden is 6.5 (slightly acidic). Wood ash works best if the soil pH level is somewhat acidic, below 6.5.