Removing lead from residential soil - Ask Extension
1. Can you help me test soil for lead in Bennington?
2. How can I dispose of phytoaccumulators I may use to mitigate lead in the soil?
Knowledgebase
Removing lead from residential soil #779032
Asked December 13, 2021, 10:59 AM EST
1. Can you help me test soil for lead in Bennington?
2. How can I dispose of phytoaccumulators I may use to mitigate lead in the soil?
Bennington County Vermont
Expert Response
Hello Jeanne,
I have recently started my position here at UVM Extension and see that your question never got answered. Our apologies.
If you are still curious about the issue you posed, let me know by responding to this post or pose your question at: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener/helpline
With thanks, Deb Heleba, UVM Extension Master Gardener Program Coordinator
Oh Dear!
I don't remember what I was asking about! I guess I found info somewhere else or learned to live with whatever it was.
I did try to contact the Windham County Extension to as about spring tree/bush orders and didn't hear back on that. Could that have been it?
Thanks for starting out so diligently!
Jeanne
Hi, Jeanne. I have been assigned your old question now. It seems you were asking about testing your soil for lead. Did you get a soil test done? If not, information on getting the soil tested is here: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/agricultural-and-environmental-testing-lab
I hope this is helpful.
Juanita
UVM Extension Master Gardener
I hope this is helpful.
Juanita
UVM Extension Master Gardener
Thank you Juanita,
I'll check this out. We bought a house in Bennington that has vinyl siding over lead paint and a barn with lead paint. We got the barn paint abated but we are concerned about 100 years of lead leaching into the yard.
Thanks for your help, we'll do a soil test.
Jeanne
Hi. Here's a bit more information regarding lead in garden soils:
- This one is quite recent: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lead-garden-soils
- This is info from 2016: https://www.washington.edu/news/2016/02/02/risk-of-lead-poisoning-from-urban-gardening-is-low-new-study-finds/
- This one has a useful pdf to download: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/lead_safety_for_the_home_gardener
Definitely do the soil test. On a personal note, my daughter in Burlington put raised beds in her back yard, filled with fresh soil because of lead concerns. She was very happy with the arrangement.
Good luck.
Juanita
UVM EMG
- This one is quite recent: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lead-garden-soils
- This is info from 2016: https://www.washington.edu/news/2016/02/02/risk-of-lead-poisoning-from-urban-gardening-is-low-new-study-finds/
- This one has a useful pdf to download: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/lead_safety_for_the_home_gardener
Definitely do the soil test. On a personal note, my daughter in Burlington put raised beds in her back yard, filled with fresh soil because of lead concerns. She was very happy with the arrangement.
Good luck.
Juanita
UVM EMG
Thanks Juanita,
I'll do the soil test for lead and these sources are great. Our house is rented to our daughter and to a family with young children and so we want them to be able to use the yard safely.
Best, Jeanne
