Step 3 - Store or Dispose of Unused Ash
Return unused ash to the metal can or sprinkle it on your compost pile or otherwise dispose of it once you have applied it to your garden or lawn. Once a year application is plenty, since applying ash is like applying lime and it is possible to make your soil too alkaline with too much ash. Ash will help neutralize compost, making an ideal pH level for decomposition. Do not, however, allow ash to pile up in hills or clumps. It will leach salts into the soil. Don't allow ash to get wet before application. Water leaches nutrients out of the ash. When you reach your application limits for the year, dispose of ash properly away from your plants, lawn and gardens.