3 Things You Should Know Before Planting Over a Septic System

6 February 2018
 Categories: , Blog


Your septic tank and drain field are parts of a complex waste treatment system, and they need to be cared for properly. You may be planning on doing landscaping around these areas, and choosing the right plants is important to prevent problems with your septic system. Here are some things that you will want to know before you start planting near your septic system:

1. Knowing the Location of Septic Tank & Drain Field for Safe Planting

The first thing that you want to do before doing landscape renovations is find out exactly where the different components of your septic system are located. Start by marking all the corners of the septic tank. From the tank, you will want to locate the main sewer lines, distribution box and drain field. You can use as-built drawings of your home to locate these areas. If you do not have drawings available, now is a good time to draw the location of the septic system to keep for your records.

2. Keeping Plants with Large Roots Away from the Septic System

When doing landscape renovations, you probably have a variety of plants and trees that you want to have around your home. Trees are going to be the plants that you want to keep the furthest away from your septic system. You may even want to consider installing root barrier systems to ensure your septic system is safe. In addition to trees, other plants with large or fast-growing roots should be planted away from the system. These plants include shrubs and climbing vines like ivy.

3. Choosing Different Plants That Can Be Planted Over Septic Tank & Drain Field

There are also a variety of different plants that can be planted near or even over septic systems. If you want to reduce odors that can come from drain fields and other components, consider aromatic perennials such as flowers and herbs. Tall wild grass species are a great choice to cover features like septic mounds and give your landscaping a wildlife habitat. When planting over septic systems, it is a good idea to use a weed barrier fabric several inches beneath the soil as a root barrier, even if you are using plants that are safe.

These are some things that you will want to know before you begin planting near your septic system. If you need help with maintenance and advice about caring for your septic system, contact a septic service like Pete's Outflow Technicians.


Share