Diesel contamination

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Last night about 40 gallons of diesel leaked in my lawn the stain is visible in an area 4 by 6 feet.
What harm can it do and what should I do?
Immediate response requested

[M Farooq]

That is very sad. Forty gallons is a lot! Unfortunately the boiling point of diesel is pretty high and even if it is allowed to evaporate slowly it will leave a tar like slick. This oily material will of course suffocate grass roots for a long time. Avoid watering the lawn as the oil will spread everywhere. The only safest "cure" is that you get the contaminated portion dug out and replaced with fresh soil and new sod.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

The digging is on, let us see how deep I will have to go.

[newton]

After soil removal but before you dump away your contaminated soil treat it with some lime as that will help to neutralize the petroleum hydrocarbons a bit faster. At the site your going to dispose of it if you can plant a hybrid poplar as that too will help otherwise for years the soil will be hazardous waste. Not much else will grow in it. An alternative way if you can do is to burn the diesel out but all of this requires removal of the contaminated soil... how on earth did 40 gallons end up on your lawn?

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

The tank of a large make shift generator leaked.
On digging I found I could smell it 1 foot below the surface. The soil 1 foot around the stain and two feet deep has been removed. the soil beneath was free of diesel smell, it is filled with Gassoo.
.

[M Farooq]

Thats gross! Thats reminding me of the Tasman spirit leakage along Karachi's seashore (> 30, 000 tons of crude oil spill) in 2003. I remember the sea-sand had turned black for a long time.

[newton]

Arif sahib, how did you get on with your diesel spill clean-up?
regards
Ifzal

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Arif sahib, how did you get on with your diesel spill clean-up?
regards
Ifzal

Two and a half feet deep soil has been replaced with fine river sand.
Thank you for concern.
Arif

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

The contaminated area



The levelling



Selection of grass, Lahorian
Source, road side in front of house




The grass



Planting



Next photo after first mowing
Arif

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

What grass is this Road side grass?
Will the patch merge with the lawns Dhaka Grass.
I have the feeling that it is the same as sold to us as fine Dhaka Grass.
Arif