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SOIL CONDITIONS
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
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Guide to Planting Over Septic System Components - photo illustrated
SepticAPedia ©
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- Advice for planting over or near septic systems
- Grasses, flowers, ground cover near septic systems
- Trees or shrubs planting near septic systems
- Gardening over or near septic system components
- Ground cover over septic fields
- Using root killers or roto-rooters for septic systems
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We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices,
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Planting Guidelines for Septic Drainfields, Mounds, Raised Beds, Septic Tanks and other Septic Components
This chapter discusses the types of plants that should or should not be planted over or near septic fields or other septic system components.
Planting trees, shrubs, and even some ground covers over septic system components are
causes of septic system failure in the drain field, leach field, seepage bed, or similar
components.
This is a guide for homeowners who are planting trees, shrubs, gardens, ground cover, or other plants near a septic system and who need to know that can be planted near or over
septic system components like the septic tank, distribution box, and drain field or soil absorption system. Planting the wrong things or in the wrong places can lead to
the need for expensive septic system repairs.
© Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.
Planting grasses or flowers over septic fields
Many people have written to ask what
can be planted over a septic field. Grasses, weeds, flower are OK:
The best answer is grass or native
grasses and weeds. Flowers are ok so long as they are not varieties
which send down deep roots. In the photograph above these relatively shallow-rooted flowers were set around
a septic tank cleanout cover.
They won't cause any damage to the system. But when planning your planting arrangement for flowers over a septic
tank, remember that if you plant valuable flowers too close to the
access cover to a septic tank or distribution box, those plants may be damaged or destroyed when you have
to excavate to open the tank or D-box cover.
Basically, any shallow-rooting planting
will be fine to plant over the surface of or near septic tanks, distribution boxes, or septic drainfields.
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The photograph shows typical grass and a few native wildflowers and dandelions growing in a lawn over a septic
system drainfield.
These plants are not likely to be harmful to the system, they stabilize the soils in the
area, and they do not interfere with soil transpiration or evaporation.
Their roots are relatively shallow so
these plants are not likely to invade the septic drainfield piping. Grass and native wildflowers are fine over
the septic tank or drainfield, and also they are fine over septic mound systems. |
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PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
Grasses or Flowers
Grazing, Animals
Ground Cover, Ivy
Trees or Shrubs
Using Root Killers
Using a Roto Rooter
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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
INSPECTING SEPTIC DRAINFIELDS
SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
DISPOSAL CLOGGING FAILURES
DISPOSAL vs TREATMENT
SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA
SOIL CONDITIONS
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
Grasses or Flowers
Grazing, Animals
Ground Cover, Ivy
Trees or Shrubs
Using Root Killers
Using a Roto Rooter
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Grazing Animals Over Septic System Fields?
Is it acceptable to permit grazing animals such as cows, horses, or sheep to occupy a field over a septic system?
No, placing horses, cows, sheep, or other grazing animals over a septic field is a bad idea for several reasons.
- Heavy animals are likely to damage the drainfield by compressing the soil and possibly by damaging buried piping. Compressing the
soil over a septic drainfield interferes with soil transpiration, cutting the oxygen level needed by soil bacteria in the biomat and reducing
removal of septic effluent through evaporation.
- There is some chance that pathogens from septic effluent may pass to and infect the animals. More about the chemical and
pathogenic risks associated with plants over septic systems is discussed at Gardens Near Septics.
In sum, it's better to keep livestock off of a septic field. In the photograph above we show deer grazing on a field along the
Virginia Skyline Drive at Big Meadows. Deer or other wild animals passing occasionally over a septic drainfield are unlikely to cause serious damage to it.
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SOIL CONDITIONS
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
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Using Root Killers
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Planting Fruit, Vegetable, or Ornamental Gardens Near or Over Septic Systems
The short answer is it's better to keep fruits and vegetables away from septic systems, especially
septic drainfields. Planting a fruit or vegetable garden over or near septic system components raises some important questions:
- Will there be pathogenic or chemical contamination of the soil (bacteria, viruses, cleaners) below the garden?
- Will septic system pathogens enter in or contaminate fruits or vegetables planted over or near the septic system?
- Will chemicals or salts passing through the septic system harm nearby plants?
- Will the garden planting itself harm the septic system in some way?
The effectiveness with which the soil biomat is treating pathogens in septic effluent, the ability of the soil to filter effluent,
the chemicals or salts entering the septic system, and the type of plants placed over or near the system are some of the
factors that lead to answers to these questions. [The photograph above shows our vegetable garden gone wild in Costa Rica.]
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- Septic effluent contains chemicals and pathogens which are potentially unhealthy or harmful to people, animals, or plants.
If a septic absorption system's biomat is functioning successfully, the level of these pathogens is reduced to that of typical
surrounding surface water before effluent leaves the drainfield. The "safe" distances involved depend on the soil type.
- Soil types affect how the septic system behaves and how it affects nearby plants of any kind.
Clay soils release cleared effluent in perhaps a few inches but then clay doesn't perc well and is bad in general for a septic location.
Sandy soils permit much greater travel of effluent and pathogens, certainly several feet. These "close" distances do not even consider
what happens when the drainfield is not working well or is in failure. In that case pathogens may be released to the general
environment and might travel any distance from the septic field.
- Root crops such as carrots or potato's which develop in the soil are likely to pick up pathogens from effluent in the soil
over, next to, or downhill from drainfield trenches or galleys.
- Leafy crops such as lettuce or perhaps broccoli which develop above the ground but close to it may be contaminated by pathogens that splash up
from the soil surface during watering or during rainfall.
- Above ground crops that grow on a raised vine such as cucumbers, tomatoes, or peppers may fare better if they must
be planted over or close to septic system components, since they are higher
up and less likely to be contaminated by soil splash-up.
- Salts and the septic system: Homes whose water supply is "hard" and which employ a salt-based water softener system are more likely to be passing high
levels of salt into the septic drainfield. Not only does this salt risk harming the drainfield operation (mineral clogging or
damage to the biomat) but such salts may also damage some plants that grow nearby.
- Chemicals and the septic system: At this website we've advised strongly against
use of "magic bullet" chemical or other septic treatments as some of them are toxic and environmental contaminants. Some of
these may also contaminate your garden.
- Gardening activities such as walking or digging into the first few inches of soil over a drainfield are not likely to
damage it. But driving equipment such as a plow or roto tiller over a drainfield or constructing a "raised bed" garden which
requires the addition of soil above surrounding ground levels can damage the system or can reduce soil transpiration thus
preventing the drainfield from functioning properly. Not "functioning properly" here means that the drainfield stops successfully
treating the pathogens that flow into it. It stops working and begins discharging unsanitary effluent into the environment, and
into your garden.
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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
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INSPECTING SEPTIC DRAINFIELDS
SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
DISPOSAL CLOGGING FAILURES
DISPOSAL vs TREATMENT
SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA
SOIL CONDITIONS
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
Grasses or Flowers
Grazing, Animals
Ground Cover, Ivy
Trees or Shrubs
Using Root Killers
Using a Roto Rooter
More Information
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Planting Trees or Shrubs Near or Over Septic Absorption Systems
This is the only sort of tree that we suggest can be placed over septic system components with little risk of
damage. This is actually a metal sculpture. Even the placement of this "tree" could have damaged a septic field if
during its installation heavy equipment was used to deliver the tree to this spot. Real trees will damage septic components
by root movement or clogging.
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In this photo the light and excavated area is where the new home owner saw and dug into
a smelly wet spot that appeared in the yard the morning after moving into their new home - a
house built 30 years before and one which employed a home made septic tank. While there were
tree roots in the drainfield pipes of the system, the septic tank itself, which was
too small, never pumped, and fully blocked, was the "root" cause of system failure in
this case. (Pardon the pun). |
How much distance is needed between trees and septic drainfields?
Whether you are planting trees or planning a new septic drainfield,
keep the drainfield or septic leach field away from trees or shrubs which are likely to put down deep or aggressive roots.
The roots will quickly invade and clog the buried effluent lines and may
also cause them to move, break, or become disconnected.
The actual tree to septic distance needed depends on the tree variety and its normal root growth range. Keep at least
as much distance between the tree and the nearest drainfield component as the anticipated height of the tree at its maturity.
So if the tree will be 30' tall at maturity keep it at least 30' from the drainfield. Some trees should be kept at much
greater distances, up to 100' from septic fields, as we discuss just below.
What kinds of trees should be kept away from septic systems?
Trees considered to have deep and/or aggressive roots that are likely to damage a drainfield include:
- Bamboo, Beech trees Fagus sp. and Birch trees Betula sp.
- Cypress trees
- Elm trees Ulmus sp. and Eucalyptus
- Pepper trees
- Pine trees, such as Monterey pine
- Poplar trees Populus sp.
- Maple trees, particularly red and silver maples Acer rubrum and Acer saccharinium
- Walnut trees
- Willow trees Salix sp are popularly known for "liking water" and will certainly send out long root systems.
Kahn, Allen, Jones (book cited at Septic Systems Home-References) point out that certain of these trees such
as bamboo, weeping willows, eucalyptus, cypress, Monterey pine, pepper, and
walnut have particularly aggressive and deep roots. Keep such trees at
least 100 feet from the nearest septic field component.
What about non-aggressive rooting trees near drainfields
Some trees have less aggressive roots and may do less rapid or less extensive damage if they are a bit nearer
to septic fields. These include:
- Ornamental trees such as Cherry, Crabapple trees, and Dogwood trees.
- Other trees with less aggressive root systems such as Oak trees (red oak, scarlet oak, and white oak)
- Some Pine trees (but not the Monterey pine) and Sourwoods.
OPINION-DF: However despite some authors accepting the near-septic use of these less aggressive trees with the advice that "... their damage is likely
to be less severe", any root clogging of septic systems is likely to be costly and inconvenient.
Trees near septic mound systems
Some experts (Kahn, Allen, Jones) also point out that if you're planting on the edges
and lower toe of a septic mound, those plants need to be able to
tolerate the higher moisture levels found in those parts of the mound
system.
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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
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INSPECTING SEPTIC DRAINFIELDS
SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
DISPOSAL CLOGGING FAILURES
DISPOSAL vs TREATMENT
SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA
SOIL CONDITIONS
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
Grasses or Flowers
Grazing, Animals
Ground Cover, Ivy
Trees or Shrubs
Using Root Killers
Using a Roto Rooter
More Information
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Plumbing Water Septic
Contact Us
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Planting Ground Cover Over Septic Fields
Ivy, Pachysandra, Similar Ground Covers are NOT OK for use over a septic drainfield: these
plants will reduce effluent evaporation from the mound soils and because
their roots often invade and clog effluent distribution piping. The photograph
shows typical ground cover north of the arctic circle in Iceland. Thick dense vegetation of any sort
will conserve moisture to itself and will prevent soil transpiration. Over a septic system this
means that the portion of effluent disposal that is supposed to be occurring due to evaporation will be reduced and
the liquid load on surrounding soils increased - you've cut the effectiveness and shortened the life of the drainfield by
such plantings. These plants are OK, however, for planting over the septic tank itself.
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Wildflowers and ordinary grasses are just fine for planting over a septic system and any of its components. These are
shallow-root plants that do not invade the system piping, they stabilize the soil surface, and they do not interfere with soil
transpiration, the movement of needed oxygen into the upper soil layers (needed by the soil biomat below the drainfield) and the
evaporation of a portion of septic effluent that enters the drainfield. [The photograph shows a field of wildflowers in
northern Vermont.]
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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
INSPECTING SEPTIC DRAINFIELDS
SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
DISPOSAL CLOGGING FAILURES
DISPOSAL vs TREATMENT
SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA
SOIL CONDITIONS
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
Grasses or Flowers
Grazing, Animals
Ground Cover, Ivy
Trees or Shrubs
Using Root Killers
Using a Roto Rooter
More Information
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Plumbing Water Septic
Contact Us
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Using Root Killers to "Un-Clog" Septic Pipes or to "Prevent Septic System Clogging"
We advise against using chemicals or caustics to "kill" tree or other plant roots
which may be present in or near septic system components. People fearing that roots will clog
or have already clogged their septic system piping, particularly drainfield piping, are tempted
to buy these products. This is another example of a "magic bullet" that does not work, is dangerous,
contaminates the environment, and is illegal in some jurisdictions.
Root killers as environmental pollutants:
First, using a chemical to kill or to "prevent" invasion of roots in septic piping means you are pouring toxic chemicals
and contaminants into the ground water - into the environment, and possibly right into your own
or someone else's well and drinking water. This is a bad idea and is prohibited in many
communities.
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Root killers as a magic bullet to repair a septic system:
Second, if septic drainfield or other pipes are already clogged or partly clogged with
tree or other plant roots, even if you killed the roots in the pipe you're leaving the clogging
material.
If piping in a septic system has become root-clogged, it is often the case that not only
are the pipes clogged, they may be dislocated or even broken by the growing tree roots.
You may find you've contaminated the environment, left the clog in place, and wasted your
money since you'll still end up digging up the clogged line to replace it. [The photograph above is
a simulation of pouring a chemical into the septic system through a toilet. Don't do this.]
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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
INSPECTING SEPTIC DRAINFIELDS
SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
DISPOSAL CLOGGING FAILURES
DISPOSAL vs TREATMENT
SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE
SEPTIC FAILURE CRITERIA
SOIL CONDITIONS
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
Grasses or Flowers
Grazing, Animals
Ground Cover, Ivy
Trees or Shrubs
Using Root Killers
Using a Roto Rooter
More Information
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Plumbing Water Septic
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Using a Roto Rooter to Remove Roots from Sewer Lines and Septic Systems
Power augers or "Roto Rooters" (TM) for plumbing drains can be an effective way to remove a blockage or
clog in a drain line. But if your plumber shows you a tangle of roots when s/he pulls
the augur back up the drain line, you should expect that additional repairs will be needed
soon. Even if you pull roots out of the blocked pipe section, the fact that they were
in there means a tree, shrub, or other plant has invaded the area and its roots remain
outside the just-un-clogged pipe. You can count on the roots re-invading the pipe
(and getting at those nutrients) soon. So de-rooting a clogged drain line is a temporary
fix.
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Links to articles on plants or animals over septic system components:
PLANTS OVER SEPTICS
Gardens Near Septics
Grasses or Flowers
Grazing, Animals
Ground Cover, Ivy
Trees or Shrubs
Using Root Killers
Using a Roto Rooter
The Septic Systems Online Book - Where Are We?
More expert information on this topic
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SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME
SEPTIC INFO ARTICLES
HOME BUYERSGUIDE
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK
INTRODUCTION
SAFETY WARNINGS
FAILURE CAUSES
INSPECTING TANKS
PUMPING FREQUENCY
INSPECTING D-BOX
SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION
PERC TESTS
FIELD SIZE
MOUND SYSTEMS
DRYWELLS
CESSPOOLS
INSPECT DYE TESTS
SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
SEPTIC CLEARANCES
SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
DEFINITIONS
FAILURE LAWSUIT
SEPTIC REFERENCES
SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR
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SEPTIC CONSULTANTS
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SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS
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More Information on Septic System Diagnosis, Maintenance, & Repair
- The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
- Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
- The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
- Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
- Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
- Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements
- Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
- How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
- Septic System Drainfield Absorption System Biomat Formation - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
- Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.
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05/02/2008 - 1/1/1995 www.inspect-ny.com/septic/fieldplants.htm © Copyright 2008-1995 Daniel Friedman - all rights reserved