Spring Landscaping Around Your Septic System

Good landscaping around your septic system can boost curb appeal and keep the system healthy at the same time. The right landscaping choices can protect this important system while transforming the often overlooked areas of your yard into attractive features. Safety comes first, because the wrong landscaping can lead to costly repairs and environmental hazards. It's important to know exactly where your septic tank and drain field are located to make sure your plant choices and landscaping activities do not interfere with its operations.

Get to know your septic system

A septic system is a self-contained, underground wastewater treatment system that is commonly used in rural areas without centralized sewer systems. It typically consists of two main components: the septic tank and the drain field. The septic tank is a watertight container where solids settle and decompose, and the effluent (liquid waste) exits to the drain field, a subsurface area for further treatment by soil microorganisms. Understanding these components is critical as it affects how you should plan your landscaping to avoid damaging the system and to make sure it functions properly. Accessibility for regular inspections and pumping must also be considered in your landscape design.

Planning Your Landscape

Before you start planting, find your septic tank and drain field. Check your home inspection records or septic diagrams, or ask a septic crew. That tells you where it's safe to plant or put heavier things like a patio or a path. Keep deep-rooted plants away from the system, since roots can damage the pipes and the tank. It also helps to know your soil and how water drains across the yard, so water doesn't pool on the drain field and cause the system to fail.

Best plants for septic fields

Picking the right plants matters around a septic system. Go with shallow-rooted plants that won't get into the pipes. Ornamental grasses like fescue or blue oat grass are good picks. They don't need much water, and their roots spread out without going too deep. Flowering perennials like daylilies, lavender, and coneflowers add some color without hurting the system. They also need less water and less work, so you're not soaking the septic area.

What to Avoid

Some landscaping choices can hurt the system, your family's health, and the land around you:

1. Plants to avoid. Keep deep-rooted trees and shrubs well away from your septic system. Willows, poplars, and elms have aggressive roots that can grow into the tank and pipes and clog or break them. Shrubs with deep roots can damage the tank and drain field too.

2. Don't plant vegetables or anything you'll eat over the drain field. Bacteria and viruses in the wastewater can get into the plants and make people sick. And a vegetable garden needs a lot of watering, which can soak the drain field and keep it from treating wastewater.

3. Keep heavy equipment and structures off it. Heavy machinery, decks, and patios over or near the septic system pack down the soil and can damage the tank and pipes. Packed soil can't soak up and filter wastewater, and that can lead to a failed system or an overflow.

More landscaping tips

You can dress up the area around your septic system safely with a few smart choices:

1. Skip the rocks and pavers. We don't recommend stones, pavers, or gravel over the absorption field. Grass is best, because it helps the treatment process.

2. Keep the water moving away. You don't want water pooling on the drain field. Slope your landscaping away from the septic system, and add French drains if you need them to keep extra water away. Point your gutters around or away from the drain field.

3. Keep it easy to get to. Make sure we can get to the septic tank for inspections and pumping. Don't put anything permanent or big plantings over the access points. Marking those spots saves time and trouble when it's time for maintenance.

DIY landscaping projects

A DIY landscaping project around your septic field can turn out great if you do it right. Here's a simple way to get started. Step 1: Find the edges of your septic tank and drain field. Step 2: Pick shallow-rooted plants that don't need much water. Group them around the yard, but keep them off the drain field.

• Step 3: Lay a base of garden fabric to suppress weeds, then cover lightly with mulch or gravel to reduce maintenance. Keep in mind not to place any fabric over the drain field.
• Step 4: If you use pavers, don't put anything right over the drain field except grass or ground covers.

2. Dig safe, and know when to call for help. Always use a hand trowel when you dig near your septic system so you don't hit the pipes or the tank. If you're making big changes, or you're not sure where everything is, call a landscaper or a septic tech. They can tell you what's safe or do the work with the right equipment.

Maintenance and care

Keeping up the landscaping around your septic system makes the yard look good and helps the system last. Here are some tips and signs to watch for:

1. Keeping up the landscaped area

• Regularly inspect plants for health and trim any overgrowth to prevent encroachment on the septic area.
• Keep the drain field area clear of debris and leaves so evaporation and transpiration aren't blocked.
• Avoid watering the plants over the septic system excessively to prevent saturation of the drain field.

2. Signs of septic trouble to watch for

• Unpleasant odors emanating from the septic tank or drain field area.
• Soggy ground or pooling water in the area of your drain field, even during dry weather.
• Slow drains or backups in your household plumbing system. 3. When to Consult a Professional Landscaper or Septic System Technician:
• If landscaping adjustments or renovations are needed near the septic system.
• At any sign of system distress or malfunction.
• For routine inspections and necessary pumping of your septic system to make sure it's functioning properly.

Conclusion

Thoughtful landscaping around your septic system serves dual purposes: it beautifies your property and protects an important component of your home's infrastructure. As you plan your garden this spring, remember to consider the placement and types of plants you use near your septic system. Avoid heavy constructions over the septic area and keep up with routine maintenance for both your landscape and septic system.

We'd love to see what you've done with the space around your septic system! Send us your before and after photos, or tell us about your project. You might give somebody else an idea.

Here are some good educational materials: https://www.epa.gov/septic/septicsmart-education-materials