Consider shallow-rooted trees and shrubbery (such as cherry trees, dogwood trees, holly shrubs, azalea shrubs and boxwood shrubs) for areas around the septic system, but keep them at least 10-15 feet away from your tank.
Planting gardens over, near and around septics is okay as long as the roots are shallow and are of plants that do not like water, except vegetable gardens. We do not recommend planting vegetable gardens over septic sytems and thier drain fields.
Here are some options to consider: Herbaceous plants, such as annuals, perennials, bulbs and ornamental grasses are generally the best choices for use on a septic drain field. Ornamental grasses also offer the advantages of having a fibrous root system that holds soil in place and providing year-round cover.
This is fine, so long as they are at least 50 feet away from your septic system and drain field. Trees that can be safely planted closer to the drain field include ornamental trees like dogwood, cherry and crabapple, hemlock of the red, scarlet and white oak varieties, and small pines such as Mugo pines.
Consider shallow-rooted trees and shrubbery (such as cherry trees, dogwood trees, holly shrubs, azalea shrubs and boxwood shrubs) for areas around the septic system, but keep them at least 10-15 feet away from your tank.
You can plant grasses and other shallow-rooted flowers and plants directly on top of a septic field. Keep trees away from a septic tank and field. The tree's height in feet indicates how far the tree should be from the system.
General Distance Regulations for Septic Tanks
These regulations vary from state to state and depend on local building codes, but there are some general rules that universally apply. The septic tank should be at least 10 feet away from water supply lines or property lines and 10 feet from any building's foundation.
Landscape fabric, plastic, bark, or mulch should not be used over your septic system.
Fruit Trees, Japanese Maples and Oak Trees
This is going to damage your home's water flow, and the entire septic system. However, if you are careful, you can put trees with non-invasive, shallow roots in the area around your drain field and septic tank. Some examples include crabapples and white oaks.
Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected more often, generally once a year.
Soft, non-woody plants help contain the moisture around the septic field, while the tender plants allow easy access to components of your septic system. Your best bet is to go with herbaceous plants. These are shallow-rooted, flowering annuals and perennials such as: Tall fescue.
How Close Can You Build To A Septic Tank? Minimum distance is usually 5 to 10 feet. Keep it that way to avoid complications—structural damage or, worse, contamination issues.
Vegetable gardening over a leach field is a bad idea. Though properly functioning septic systems won't contaminate the soil with harmful pathogens, there is no easy way to guarantee that the crops grown over a leach field will be safe to eat.
After all, this solves the problem of potential soil contamination from pathogens or household chemicals. Unfortunately, this is also not a recommended option. The added soil depth of raised garden beds can inhibit evaporation and limit the effectiveness of your septic system.
The average lifespan of a septic system is 15 to 40 years, but it can last longer if properly maintained! Think at the sink. Consider what you put into your toilet and sink and the impact it may have on your system. Many common household items can either clog your system or kill the microbes that treat the wastewater.
Setback standards for wells and septic tank systems vary widely from state to state, but most range from 50 to 100 feet. Setback distances may increase when special limiting factors exist, such as the presence of limestone, karst or fractured bedrock in the soil formation.
A deck with posts in the ground or a patio with a foundation or roof must be placed at least 10 feet from the nearest edge of the septic tank.
As long as you choose a tree that does not have aggressive, water-seeking roots, you can usually plant the tree the same distance from the septic tank as the tree's expected height at maturity (or 30 feet minimum).
Direct all surface drainage away from the septic system. Use shallow-rooted plants (see plant list above). Tree and shrub roots can grow into the drainlines, clogging and breaking them. Avoid water-loving plants and trees.
Turf grasses are the most common plant selected for over a septic system. However, their shallow roots require frequent surface watering, and require repeated lawnmower traffic to keep the lawn trimmed. Choosing a native garden is low maintenance, requires no fertilizer, mowing, or watering.
1. Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis) This dwarf, needled evergreen is originally from Japan and is safe to plant near a foundation. It also won't outgrow its space the way that arborvitae or larger evergreens tend to do.
Sinker roots are much smaller roots which grow straight down from the lateral root system to find nutrients. Some species of trees, like weeping willows, eastern cottonwood, and golden bamboo, have very aggressive lateral root systems. They produce a high volume of these roots.
Trees like dogwoods or crape myrtles have shallower and less invasive roots, making them a safer choice near structures. Mind the Distance: Plant trees far enough away from the house to minimize the risk of roots reaching the foundation.