You can scatter them thinly around the garden but not on acid lovers. They contain some potash, good for flowers and fruit, but it is very soluble so won't do any good in winter as it will all be leached away by next growing season. Do not use any ash that has any coal ash mixed with it.

thank-you, i'm new t this. how do i know if they are acid lovers?

The main ones are the rhododendron family, Pieris and Calluna (summer flowering heathers). Anything you've been advised to plant in ericaceous compost in fact.
http://www.plantadvice.co.uk/plants/ericaceous.php
Copy and paste this link for a long list!

If you scatter your ashes thinly it shouldn't matter much anyway.