While there is no hard and fast rule, and it will depend on many factors, it is a best practice to have any produce or fruit trees at least 10 feet from the perimeter of the leach field to avoid having the vegetables interact with incompletely cleaned water.
Eating vegetables grown over you septic tank is OK. Just remember that when they come to drain/clean it. the area will be contaminated for a while. Eating nut/vegetable grown over your drain-field may not be ok due to the fact that they might be high in ``bad'' mineral/metal.
Don't: Plant a vegetable garden on or near the drainfield. Put plastic sheets, bark, gravel or other fill over the drainfield. Reshape or fill the ground surface over the drainfield and reserve area.
If your home has a septic drainage or leach field, consider planting shrubs that are safe to plant near a septic system. Choose plants with shallow roots, such as ornamental grasses, groundcovers, annuals, or perennials like azaleas, hydrangeas, lavender, or hollyhocks.
DON'T plant anything over or near the drain field except grass. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs may clog and damage drain lines. DON'T dig in your drain field or build anything over it. DON'T cover the drain field with a hard surface such as concrete or asphalt.
Tree roots are a septic system's worst nightmare. They surround the system for its water and damage the leach field and tank. Large roots have been known to crack septic tanks and make mincemeat out of drain fields. Plant trees away from the septic system to avoid root encroachment and damage.
You can expect your leach field to last between 20 and 25 years with proper maintenance. However, its lifespan could be significantly shorter if it wasn't installed correctly or you don't have your septic system cleaned regularly.
While there is no hard and fast rule, and it will depend on many factors, it is a best practice to have any produce or fruit trees at least 10 feet from the perimeter of the leach field to avoid having the vegetables interact with incompletely cleaned water.
Usually they are around 3 feet deep. If it's too shallow water will saturate the topsoil and be a smelly mess. Too deep and you can pollute the ground water if you are on a well system for drinking water. It's always a good idea to test the water periodically to insure there hasn't been any contamination.
Maples are notorious for clogging pipes. Other fruit trees aren't a good match either. Any vegetation planted near your septic tank may be at risk from bacterial or viral contamination.
Planting over a leach field deserves special consideration because plant roots can clog the drain pipes and potentially damage the drain field – an expensive problem to fix. Many herbaceous perennials are pretty safe options because their roots will not grow deep enough to reach the pipes.
No. Ride-on mowers and other garden care equipment will not harm your leach field. You should, however, stay away from it with cars, pick-up trucks, and rubber tired heavy equipment like backhoe loaders.
Septic-Area Crops Are Unsafe for Humans
Produce from the area around your septic drain field is hazardous, since the veggies can be contaminated with the harmful microorganisms. If blackberry or other berry plants grow wild over your septic field, don't eat the berries or allow others to eat the fruit of the plants.
The best plants you can put on top of a septic drain or leach field are shallow-rooted herbaceous plants. These include perennials, bulbs, turf-grass, weeds, groundcovers, and more. A few examples are holly shrubs, boxwood shrubs, azalea shrubs, hollyhocks, wild violets, and spring bulbs.
Food Waste
Sending food items down your drains is never a good idea. If your home relies on a septic tank, even using a garbage disposal can end up causing problems for your system. While any food waste is risky, the following items are particularly hazardous: Coffee grounds.
Vegetables on a Leach Field
Furthermore, vegetable gardeners may not be keen on growing their food plants in soil that is frequently inundated with household chemicals. Unfortunately, placing raised beds over the drainage area isn't a good solution either.
While the terms are often used interchangeably, a leach field typically refers to the specific area where effluent is discharged into the soil, whereas a drain field encompasses the entire system of pipes and distribution components involved in wastewater dispersal and treatment.
While you can safely walk on your leach field, parking, driving, and building on the area above should be avoided. You may also want to take caution when considering how to landscape the property around your leach field.
However, not all septic systems are the same; depending upon the type of system you have installed and how deep the current topsoil is above the septic field, you may be able to add a couple feet of soil without issues, or you may only be able to add a few inches more.
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. It's best to skip the Japanese maple, as these are extremely well-known for their pipe clogging abilities.
You should never install the following over a drainfield:
Driveways. Pools. Patios. Tennis courts.
A well-designed leach field will last between 15 and 50 years. The dramatic lifespan difference is based on several factors, including: Maintenance – Regular inspections and pumping every 5-10 years can extend the field's functional life.
When the drainfield fails, or is saturated with water, sewage may backup into the home. Wet, soggy areas may develop above or near the drainfield and you may see spongy bright green grass over the area. There may also be odors near the tank or drainfield.
For instance, a steel septic tank can be expected to last between 15 and 20 years, while a concrete tank could last up to 40 years under the right conditions. A leach field, however, can easily last up to 50 years if properly maintained and protected.