I have started burning live oak and magnolia leaves, in a low, mostly smothered pile, so that they turn to charcoal - they do not break down very well in my compost pile, when out straight in.

Does this make sense?

Bradley.Kohr.II said:

---

I have started burning live oak and magnolia leaves, in a low, mostly smothered pile, so that they turn to charcoal - they do not break down very well in my compost pile, when out straight in.

Does this make sense?

---

High carbon:nitrogen ratio. Add a handful of commercial fertilizer or two, and water.

I dump all of my BBQ ash on my dewberry vines, they love it!

cledus6150 said:

---

I dump all of my BBQ ash on my dewberry vines, they love it!

---

Really gives that blackberry cobbler a smoky flavor

Did somebody say "Blackberry Smoke"?

Yes you can, and make the most of it. It won't break down. Based on "Biochar" concept:

Natural charcoal has benefits that briquets will not. Ash in the soil/compost will make it more alkaline, but should have no other effect if you are ok with this.

Unburned charcoal (pure carbon) will not break down in the soil, and giving it time in the compost ("charging") will allow nutrients time to build within the porous substrate, and it will serve as a nutrient reservoir beneficial to microbial life in your soil supporting biomass growth and retention for a long time. Some users of Biochar recommend soaking the char in a nutrient dense liquid fertilizer, like Dyna-Gro, for a few days prior to addition to compost or If you throw the charcoal direct into your soil, it will rob nutrients for a time before it becomes a net benefit.

David the Good provides a summary here