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Use Ferns To Free Unhealthy Toxins From Your Soil

By Sarahrae, July 23rd, 2012, Chicago

There are many things we’ve learned over the years about toxins in the world around us. We’ve learned that canned food might not be the best, PVC is a little icky and that even household standards, like the garden hos, can pose a potential threat. Another common one is the arsenic that was added to treated lumber in the past. Although we didn’t know any better, it worked well, but old wood could have leached bad things into your soil from your past deck or patio.

The first step to determining if your yard is at risk is to test the soil. In the past, when high levels of arsenic were discovered, the only treatment was to dig it all up and replace it with new soil. It was costly, laborious and frustrating! Now researchers have come up with a new, more eco-friendly way to free your soil of these toxins. The best part is it’s substantially less expensive and looks attractive at the same time. So what’s the scoop?

Ferns! It has been discovered that in as little as 2 years, ferns could remove most if not all of the adverse chemicals in your soil. Maybe you live on what once was farm land, or just aren’t sure how the previous homeowner treated your dirt. Just plant a few ferns. The more the merrier, as these beautiful bad boys will store the toxin in their leaves until trimmed and new ones grow in their place.

It’s a cool idea that could make all the difference if you have small children or even pets you might be concerned about. Read more over at Science Daily.

 

Image: Flickr member Dierken licensed for use by Creative Commons