Q Can I use soot and wood ash on the garden?

A ANNE SAYS Wood ash makes soil more alkaline and adds potash, so is good around fruit bushes. Soot (not from coal or anthracite as they may contain harmful residues) has been used to darken soil and help it warm up faster in spring, and contains nutrients for plants. Spread it thinly in a compost heap but don’t use it directly on the soil.