How many subsamples should be collected in a garden?

In the context of assessing lead contamination through soil testing in a garden, collecting between three to ten subsamples is recommended to ensure a representative assessment of potential lead exposure. This range allows for obtaining a more accurate average of lead levels, as it takes into account the variability that may exist in soil composition and contamination levels across different areas of the garden.

By employing this sampling strategy, it mitigates the risk of drawing conclusions based on an unrepresentative single sample, which might miss localized contamination hotspots or present skewed data due to environmental factors. Collecting samples systematically from various locations within the garden creates a comprehensive overview of lead concentration and helps inform any necessary remediation steps to protect public health.