When should I test my soil?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Testing soil at the appropriate times protects your family from undiscovered toxins. Critical times are before starting gardens, when buying property, and after learning about past problems with the land. Regular checks every three to five years are essential in areas of risk. The spring and fall seasons are the best, as they allow for easy testing due to thawing or unfrozen ground. If there is a chemical leak, testing would take place immediately.
Pre-Use Verification
- Before edible gardening: Ensures toxins won't enter food
- Prior to playground installation: Protects children from exposure
- Pre-construction: Prevents contaminant disturbance during excavation
Property Transactions
- During due diligence period: Identifies hidden liabilities
- Before finalizing purchase: Ensures investment safety
- For disclosure compliance: Meets legal requirements
Risk Area Monitoring
- Near industrial zones: Catches chemical migration
- Adjacent to busy roads: Detects accumulating lead from exhaust
- Below old painted structures: Monitors lead paint deterioration
Timing is important for reliable results. Spring tests conducted after snowmelt reveal winter accumulation of contamination. Fall tests before the ground freezes detect summer contamination. These are the best times to collect samples. Summer heat will dry out samples, while the ground is frozen during winter, making coring impossible.
Immediate attention is warranted for historical land use. Locating earlier orchard activities requires pesticide analyses. Tests for heavy metals are needed for former industrial sites. Residences built before 1980 require lead sampling. I have seen homeowners discover arsenic several decades later, following the prior removal of orchards.
Frequent observation of risk zones deters slow exposure. Industrial zones build up chemicals gradually. Old buildings gradually shed lead paint chips. Roadways continue to gather residues from exhaust fumes. Testing at 3-year intervals exposes these creeping contamination threats before they become dangerous.
Emergency testing follows visible incidents immediately. Chemical spills require sampling on the same day as the incident to prevent dispersion. Flooding requires sampling after the water recedes. Construction accidents involve immediate testing. Quick action can document the sources of contamination for liability claims and remediation.
After any significant landscaping or soil disturbance, retest within 12 months. Excavating brings deep contaminants to the surface. Imported soils may contain hidden toxins. Grading changes the chemical migration pattern. Double-check for safety before allowing children to play in renovated areas.
Read the full article: 5 Critical Insights into Soil Contamination Testing
