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Odd soil in part of my yard
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Posted by maureeninmd z6 MD (My Page) on Wed, Nov 18, 09 at 10:48
| Hello
I have some strange soil in a small section of my yard. It is very, very dark and full of dark, charcoal-like extremely (lightweight) rocks. It is loaded with earthworms. It goes down about 12 inches and below that is clay. Does anyone have any idea what this stuff is?
I wasn't sure if photos would be helpful, looks darker in real life:
I live on a narrow 1/4-acre lot. This is the back corner section, near a gravel driveway (My driveway ends up in my backyard). Some of the houses around here were built as far back as the 1870s. I am finding lots of broken glass and old metal bolts, etc. in this area, so I am wondering is I am now digging near a trash pit, but I have found lots of old broken glass and bits of pottery everywhere in my yard. (Nothing terribly interesting though except a 1920's era bottle of Old Grandad and a silver spoon).
The soil elsewhere in the yard is fantastic. Several gardeners have lived here over the years and have improved the soil.
I am expanding the garden into this area only a little bit, but am still curious about it. I am removing the larger rocks and bringing up some clay from below to mix in. Does that make sense?
Thanks
Maureen |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| How large an area? It sounds a bit as if for some time someone used the area to burn trash. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| The hard, dark and porous material appears to be coke, or the burned residue of coal. It was a common heating fuel during the late 1800s to mid 1900s and is typically found in many backyards dating from that era where people discarded it when cleaning out their coal stoves. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| Thanks! So it's OK to plant in? This area is probably 20 x 30' or so but is bisected by gravel driveway. I took down a few weedy trees a few years ago and would like to expand the garden into this area. I suppose it's OK to plant in as the trees and grass have done OK? Should I just continue to bring up a little clay and mix in? Add chopped leaves now and compost in the Spring?? (This is what I usually do.) I suppose it is very dry soil. It will be difficult to water here as it it far from the hose. Thanks
Maureen |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| You'll get different opinions on this. Some will say that any residue of coal will kill you dead. Some (like me) will say its probably not ideal but you play with the hand you're delt. Besides which this coal residue is probably pretty old... I'd add compost and continue on. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| I would only plant shrubs and perennials here, not edibles anyway. It's so dry! I'll just move bits of things here, see what survives. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 18, 09 at 19:43
| Certain types of coal form "clinkers," which are found in the ash bed after the fire has cooled. I have seen weeds growing up through clinkers that lay along railroad tracks, and the weeds looked healthy. To my knowledge clinkers are inert, glassy lumps, that do not leach anything into the soil. If you had enough of them, they would help the soil drain, just like mixing in gravel. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| The toxins that coal and/or coke ash that might be in that soil probably would not be enough to kill someone if they ate foods grown there, but they could make someone quite ill. Start getting that area ready to use by adding large amounts of organic matter which will encourage, eventually, a good Soil Food Web to develop and that will help eliminate or stabilize any toxins that might be there. Adding lots of organic matter to contaminated soils is a common remediation program. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| I found lots of metal pieces yesterday. Maybe there was some sort of forge here? Also piles of "normal" rocks dumped here as well, it seems. Good thing I'm only digging a small section, most of it must be under the driveway. I wouldn't plant anything edible anywhere near here! I already have large veggie garden anyway. |
Forgot to ask
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| I do wonder why there are so many worms here. Piles of them, all sizes. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 19, 09 at 13:55
| Worms are a good sign that the soil is likely not toxic. Ash, coke, and clinkers are not the same thing. Sometimes people add ash to soil, to raise the pH. Certain kinds of coal contain impurities that won't burn up, and clinkers are found in the firebox, after the coal has been consumed. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| Despite the worms, I'd be very wary of growing anything there that I planned to eat unless I first tested the soil, especially for heavy metals. |
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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Here is a link that might be useful: dvdshop88
RE: Odd soil in part of my yard
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| It certainly looks like clinker to me. Many old gardens in the UK have this. I can remember the distinctive sound in the mornings when my mother riddled the grate before laying the fire for the day. What fell through the grate was ash and clinker (not coke - which was a more expensive,less smokey, fuel than coal, not a waste product). Coal heated UK homes until well into the 70s. Whether it is a problem for your vegetables I can't tell you. |
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