| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
LisaC
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:07 pm Post subject: Contaminated soil |
|
|
| I have several bags of soil that were contaminated with residue from oil paint and thinners. The painters cleaned their supplies back behind the garage right over the roots of a large tree, so I removed what I could and planned to take the soil to the city's disposal center. Is there a safe way to reclaim the soil myself with organic amendments? Should I treat the remaining soil around the tree roots? |
|
| Back to top |
|
Dchall_San_Antonio
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Posts: 2002
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Since you already dug up the soil, I would spread it out to let the thinners evaporate. Then put it back where it came from with some molasses and organic fertilizer like alfalfa or corn meal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
CaptainCompostAL
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 866
Location: Irondale,Alabama
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| In addition to what was already suggested, don't forget that lots of homemade compost also will supply plenty of beneficial and cleansing microbes to help the soil "contamination" issue too. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Dchall_San_Antonio
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Posts: 2002
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Good point. I usually don't suggest compost but this is one place where I do like the application. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Kathe Kitchens
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 829
Location: Dallas,TX
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:51 pm Post subject: More decontaminants |
|
|
Don't forget humate, deactivated charcoal and zeolite. They work too.
Humate is inexpensive and generally available. The other two can be a little more difficult to come by.
Kathe :D |
|
| Back to top |
|
Kathe Kitchens
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 829
Location: Dallas,TX
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject: One more... |
|
|
A little d-limonene or orange oil added to Garret Juice will help too.
Remember it only hurts when it gets on green tissue in solutions that are stronger than they should be. Definitely put the soil back after it has had time to let some of the contaminants burn off.
A thought - your tree would benefit from the sick tree treatment to deal with anything it has already absorbed.
Kathe |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
