wood ash

i've heard you can add wood ash into water or directly to the soil to help balance out the pH. does this mean i can take ash directly from my fireplace and just add it in?

I was wondering this myself, could I just go to the fire pit outside and get it or might it have viruses? Does it make ph go up or down?

they mention it in the hightimes video "ready set grow" but they don't go into specifics.. thats why i was checking here. hopefully someone knows, it might be useful.

It's going to help shift the soil to the alkaline side. You can put fine ash in teaspoon amounts as a top dressing and then water. If your adding it to a soil mix prior to planting you want to make a solution of fine ash and water, test the pH of the solution and then water the soil to the point just before she's going to drip. If you want to shift your soil 1 pH unit then add a solution that is 1pH unit more alkaline than your desired end point. For example, you've got a 6 pH soil and you want it at 7 pH water the soil with an 8 pH solution of wood ash. Keep in mind you're going to need to be able to test your soil pH to ensure your on the spot. Make sure the soil mix has equilibrated for several weeks prior to planting.