I'm looking for plants that can absorb contaminants from the soil. Ideally, I'd like to grow something for a while, then cut it down and dispose of it to get rid of the toxins. Do big trees or grass cuttings work similarly if I throw away their clippings instead of letting them decompose?
3 Answers
While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, sunflowers and hemp have shown promise for bioremediation. They might just be worth checking out!
Unfortunately, if there were a magic plant that could clean everything, you’d see it everywhere! What contaminants are you most worried about? Knowing that could help narrow down your options.
It's tough to find a single plant that can handle all types of contaminants because there are so many different kinds out there. Plants often only accumulate specific things - like heavy metals. Are you dealing with any particular concern in your soil, or are you just trying to play it safe?
Not sure yet since I haven't tested, but living near old shingle roofs, I assume heavy metals might be an issue.
I need to test it, but I really want to start gardening. Given the 70+ years near shingle roofs, I expect there could be some heavy metals.