Q: My lawn is in fair to good condition but I recently heard about pot ash and how it helps lawns to have deeper roots and better drought resistance. Is this true?

A: Pot ash is more correctly spelled potash, which is short for the plant nutrient potassium. It is true that potash plays a big part in plant hardiness during stress, like drought or cold weather. Fortunately, potassium is usually mixed with other nutrients to make common lawn fertilizer. The last of the three numbers on a fertilizer bag denotes the percentage of potassium in the mix. A bag of 10-10-10 contains 10 percent each of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. But not all lawns need added potassium; how do you know if yours does? Its best to have the soil tested for nutrient levels. Details at www.georgiasoiltest.com.