The Recommended Plants for Septic Fields Root Systems. Plants may be damaged or destroyed if you have to excavate to open the system's cover. It is a reliable, cost-effective solution that will allow you to comply with environmental legislation. Annual flowers have to be planted every year which means digging and replanting around your drainfield. Wastewater treatment systems need to be kept in an environment that is suited to their needs in order to operate perfectly, so there are a few rules to designing your garden around your existing tank. Most Michigan rural homeowners have an onsite waste water system (septic system) that includes a septic tank and water drainage field to dispose of the treated water.In a state with over 1.3 million septic systems, placement of the septic system for homeowners can be located in either front, side, or back of the home and take up much of the yard space. A Septic Tank with a Drainage field is nearly always cheaper than a Sewage Treatment Plant with a Drainage Field. Landscaping Ideas Around Septic Tanks: What to Plant Over a Septic Tank. It’s not quite the same as eating plants that have grown from a septic draining field, but plunging your hands into the soil creates the potential for contaminants to do you harm, so glove up! It is often recommended that leach fields be covered with meadow grass or turf grass, such as perennial rye. cj said: "When planting grass over a septic system drain field, don't add additional soil, unless it is a small amount of soil to restore an eroded area or to replace soil pulled up by the removal of a plant. In other words, plants that don’t mind a bit of salt and base. Ground growing plants could become contaminated by splashing soil. Wastewater treatment systems, sand filter septic, septic systems. This is not a comprehensive list, just a list of commonly used plants I feel fairly confident about. While Ri-Industries septic tanks are made from 40 MPa concrete, and the engineer-designed tanks are built to withstand anything, contractors generally believe that no tree is safe to plant … Plant foliage above ground collects water to lessen flooding risks. Essentially a rational economic person would not install a Sewage Treatment Plant with a discharge to ground and a Drainage Field. Planting ornamental plants on septic drain fields provides oxygen exchange and helps with evaporation in the drain field area. Plants soak up effluent or wastewater in the soil and release it in the air in the form of vapour. I received a query from a homeowner who wanted a factsheet about planting over a septic drain field. Plants also help control erosion. Native seed mixes are recommended for planting over drainfields and septic mounds, where waste-water nutrients are taken up by the plants roots and … ), cypress trees (Cupressus), maples, particularly silver maple (Acer saccharinium), birches (Betula … Drain Field Planting Do’s It is suggested that you grow plants with a shallow root system as they are less likely to interfere with your septic system. This article describes the types of trees, shrubs, or similar plants that should or should not be planted over or near septic fields or other septic system components. Despite a lot of misconceptions, installing a septic treatment system on your property does not mean that you can’t grow anything over it. Essentially a rational economic person would not install a Sewage Treatment Plant with a discharge to ground and a Drainage Field. Lay out the location of your shrubs before you start any digging. However, there are plenty of plants that can and will contribute to the aesthetics and function of your garden without causing damage to your tank. A lush bed of grass also assists in keeping the entire structure from eroding and plants … The best plants to use near drainage fields are flowers, grasses, and small groundcovers that will not grow deep enough to disrupt the pipeline of your septic tank. All Rights Reserved. In fact, it’s actually very helpful to have a garden growing over your septic tank once it has been installed, as it will help with evaporation in the drain field area – thus preventing erosion, collapse or other problems caused by excess moisture. The root system of water-loving shrubs can become entangled in the pipes of your septic system if planted too close to your drainage field, and cause problematic clogging. After you spread grass seeds evenly over the area, add a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of topsoil to cover the seeds. All septic tanks that as of today discharge into waterways must be either: Replaced, using sewage treatment plants with full BS EN 12566-3 Documentation, or; The discharge to the waterway impeded and redirected to a drain field, designed and made according to … The homeowner wanted some perennials that would thrive on utter neglect — don’t we all? The plants reduce reliance on the soil to absorb effluent by maximising water loss. A septic tank drain field can be tough to cover with any type of plants and flowers. Ground Covers. Septic tank drainage fields are an integral part of a septic system. Planting on your wastewater disposal field can limit the growth of unwanted plants and help optimise your system’s performance. Jacqueline Soule is a garden writer based in Tucson, Ariz. Some of the plants that are safe for your drain field are: Holly Shrubs Boxwood Shrubs Azalea Shrubs Holly Hocks Wild Violets Spring Bulbs Nielsen tells homeowners to keep a distance for water-loving trees that include willows, birch, silver maple, elm, beech, walnut and linden. Based in Victoria, Septic Systems Australia designs, installs, services and repairs all types of domestic and commercial septic systems. 08 8444 810006:30 – 16:00 M – F The Tricel Novo would suit this situation perfectly. Saved by Lee Kirk & Sons Septic. Lawn grass is typically short-rooted and survives well with very little watering. Our Suggestions for Some Septic Tank Plants. The best plants to use near drainage fields are flowers, grasses, and small groundcovers that will not grow deep enough to disrupt the pipeline of your septic tank. Garden Beds: Did you know that your drain field can be installed in existing garden beds? Ornamental grasses also offer the advantages of having a fibrous root system that holds soil in place, and providing year-round cover. Who are we? While Ri-Industries septic tanks are made from 40 MPa concrete, and the engineer-designed tanks are built to withstand anything, contractors generally believe that no tree is safe to plant too close to a septic system. Drainage fields should be set out as a continuous loop fed from the inspection chamber. This is because the root system provides a tree’s primary way of absorbing water, and those roots will extend toward the most abundant source of water in your yard. the type, a good rule of thumb for landscaping over drain fields is to use shallow rooted, drought tolerant plants with non-dense roots. Hydrophilic (water friendly) plants will grow deep into the ground, searching for moisture.