Good Gardening Practices for Urban Soils

These guidelines will help protect you from polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead (Pb) and other contaminants commonly in the urban soil.

Wear gloves while gardening
Wash hands after gardening and before eating
Wash and scrub vegetables before eating or cooking
Change gardening shoes before entering home so as not to track excessive dirt indoors
Don’t let children eat soil
Add organic matter to soil, such as compost
Till soil only to a depth of 6” - 8”
Avoid deep digging or double digging
Use mulch to lessen splashing of soil onto plants
Do not use railroad ties or pressure treated (CCA) wood

Prepared by: Boston University School of Public Health,
Department of Environmental Health

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