plastic sheet covering my backyard

Hiya, We moved in to a house last summer, and now that we’re almost finished renovating, we’re hoping to use our backyard this year!  We aren’t sure yet what we’ll do with it, but for starters, we have to contend with a sheet of black plastic that covers the entire dirt area.  It’s a couple of inches under the topsoil, but coming up in many places.  Should we leave it?  remove it all?  there aren’t really plantings to save, to speak of; a randome bulb came up and there is a rose bush along the fence that wouldn’t be affected. I’m wondering – besides it having been there for weed prevention, could it be separating some toxic sudge from the growing dirt?  How does a person test for this? Anyone else have any experience with anything like this? Thanks so much – this is clearly my first experience with having responsiblity for an outdoor space as an adult!

elm_bk

in Garden 12 years and 2 months ago

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marie-helene | 12 years and 2 months ago

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If it’s only 2 inches below the surface, it’s probably for weed prevention rather than lead. Still, it’s a good idea to test.  You can buy a kit in any hardware store, and then test different areas with mason jars and white vinegar. I would leave the landscape fabric until you have a plan.

nyteacher | 12 years and 2 months ago

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we had our yard tested for lead and it was very polluted.  We removed 16 inches of topsoil and brought in new soil, and one of the people who bid on the job said that often he puts a screen down so that people know where the new soil ends and the contamintated soil begins.  I would test the soil above and below.  Brooklyn College will test for you cheap.