If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good...

Quiteria · 04-01-2017, 09:24 PM

We live in an area where most of the houses are old enough to have lead paint and other dangers. Once we rented a place next door to someone whose yard was contaminated by a rusted tank of heating oil, if I recall correctly.

What are some ways to prepare your land to make sure it's safe?

ServingGrace · 04-23-2017, 06:30 AM

I believe fungi will sequester heavy metals and toxins from the soil. So perhaps grow a crop of ground cover mushrooms? Harvest to throw away not compost back into the soil. Then plant a tilling ground over like daikon or black radishes. After that a year of nitrogen fixing legumes. There would likely still be a trace of toxins in the soil after that so it would be a good idea to get into some hardcor composting to cover the land with about a foot deep where growing edibles. Maybe that's a bit extreme. Perhaps just a raised bed of about two feet filled with compost and mulch might work and get to be enjoyed the same season.

knitlove · 04-23-2017, 06:39 AM

What are you wanting to do in the yard? Have children no play on the grass grow food?

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Quiteria · 04-23-2017, 08:31 AM

I meant for gardening food. They do already play on the existing grass. I just feel like eating from it is a new level of trust.

Katigre · 04-23-2017, 09:26 AM

I wouldn't use existing soil to garden, I'd use raised beds with new soil.

Quiteria · 04-23-2017, 12:02 PM

I don't *know* that anything is wrong with the soil, just that it's an old neighborhood with old houses.

Maedchen · 04-23-2017, 01:17 PM

you could take a sample of the soil down to the county agent and talk with them. I am not sure if they would give you a fee, but you could discuss with them and also they can analyze the soil to tell you what you might want to add to make it stronger to have a healthy garden.

Katigre · 04-23-2017, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiteria

I don't *know* that anything is wrong with the soil, just that it's an old neighborhood with old houses.

It wouldn't be worth it to me to risk it imo.

knitlove · 04-23-2017, 02:22 PM

Raised beds would be an easy way to deal with it. You can put in soil you trust and get a good mix of nutrents in it.

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04-01-2017, 09:24 PM	#1
Quiteria Rose Garden Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 23,483	If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... We live in an area where most of the houses are old enough to have lead paint and other dangers. Once we rented a place next door to someone whose yard was contaminated by a rusted tank of heating oil, if I recall correctly. What are some ways to prepare your land to make sure it's safe? __________________ Homeschooling mama to five: a young adult (graduated!), two high schoolers, a big kid, and a kindergartner And yes, they've all aged overnight since the last time you read my out-of-date sigg.

04-23-2017, 06:30 AM	#2
ServingGrace Rose Blossom Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 208	Re: If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... I believe fungi will sequester heavy metals and toxins from the soil. So perhaps grow a crop of ground cover mushrooms? Harvest to throw away not compost back into the soil. Then plant a tilling ground over like daikon or black radishes. After that a year of nitrogen fixing legumes. There would likely still be a trace of toxins in the soil after that so it would be a good idea to get into some hardcor composting to cover the land with about a foot deep where growing edibles. Maybe that's a bit extreme. Perhaps just a raised bed of about two feet filled with compost and mulch might work and get to be enjoyed the same season.

04-23-2017, 06:39 AM	#3
knitlove Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle area Posts: 21,260	Re: If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... What are you wanting to do in the yard? Have children no play on the grass grow food? Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk __________________ Wife to a wonderful DH for 19 years. Momma to my 29 weeker Early Bird who is thirteen and my little Wiggle Worm born 33 weeks who is nine. How do I have a teenager?! I don't feel ready for this.

04-23-2017, 08:31 AM	#4
Quiteria Rose Garden Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 23,483	Re: If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... I meant for gardening food. They do already play on the existing grass. I just feel like eating from it is a new level of trust. __________________ Homeschooling mama to five: a young adult (graduated!), two high schoolers, a big kid, and a kindergartner And yes, they've all aged overnight since the last time you read my out-of-date sigg.

04-23-2017, 09:26 AM	#5
Katigre Rose Garden Why thank you, it is naturally blue... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21,278	Re: If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... I wouldn't use existing soil to garden, I'd use raised beds with new soil.

04-23-2017, 12:02 PM	#6
Quiteria Rose Garden Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 23,483	Re: If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... I don't know that anything is wrong with the soil, just that it's an old neighborhood with old houses. __________________ Homeschooling mama to five: a young adult (graduated!), two high schoolers, a big kid, and a kindergartner And yes, they've all aged overnight since the last time you read my out-of-date sigg.

04-23-2017, 01:17 PM	#7
Maedchen Rose Trellis Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2,482	Re: If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... you could take a sample of the soil down to the county agent and talk with them. I am not sure if they would give you a fee, but you could discuss with them and also they can analyze the soil to tell you what you might want to add to make it stronger to have a healthy garden.

04-23-2017, 02:22 PM	#9
knitlove Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle area Posts: 21,260	Re: If you wanted to make sure your yard was safe / good... Raised beds would be an easy way to deal with it. You can put in soil you trust and get a good mix of nutrents in it. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk __________________ Wife to a wonderful DH for 19 years. Momma to my 29 weeker Early Bird who is thirteen and my little Wiggle Worm born 33 weeks who is nine. How do I have a teenager?! I don't feel ready for this.

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