Back yard dirt

We have just installed a fence along out lot line. It was a jungle. Now it is a desert, except with more glass, trash and concrete bits. Looking over past postings on this topic, I see a long stretch of time as we rake through the dirt. We will not be hiring anyone, just doing it ourselves a bit at a time. It will be awhile before we are ready to plant anything.

My question is – what should be do in the meantime so that the dust/dirt doesn’t blow away? Would a layer of mulch work? Hay? Fabric? Even if the dirt doesn’t have high heavy metal content, the dust itself is not good to breath. Getting it tested by Brooklyn College (also from this forum.)

lafayetteloruren

in General Discussion 6 years and 3 months ago

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lafayetteloruren

in General Discussion 6 years and 3 months ago

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Thanks so much! I ordered erosion jute (biodegradable). It isn’t that much sq footage, but it will probably take us until next spring before we have it in any shape for planting. Neither my husband or I have the stomach to work more than an hour or two and not every day either.

And yes, ordered from the big orange box store. Cheapest and will deliver for “free.” It weighs about 80 lbs.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 6 years and 3 months ago

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I wonder if neighborhoods like mine (PLG) might be less contaminated than other parts of brownstone Brooklyn? We were part of the Town of Flatbush, rather than the City of Brooklyn, until 1894 and the area was farmland until the 1890s.

dorkofwindsor | 6 years and 3 months ago

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The dirt will have heavy metal content. Even prospect park has it in most recent testing. You could put weed liner fabric over it until you address, which would also have the benefit of keeping weeds away. 1000% easier than mulch. The big orange box store should have. As you seem to be aware the biggest metals risk being the airborne dust, likely contaminated from hundreds of years of fossil fuels in the industrial revolution (as most similar global cities have). It has been concluded by some researchers as a bigger risk than lead paint. Brooklyn of course ground zero, in NYC, perhaps from how the wind usually blows:
[9EA1805E-D407-4FC4-9E1B-3124018FD3E3](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:3KHu:9ea1805ed4074fc49e1b3124018fd3e3.jpeg.jpg)