The NC Cooperative Extension does not recommend planting trees in the drainfield. Instead, plant them at least 25′ from the area. Keep in mind the soil surrounding a drainfield will have increased nutrients. This could encourage the tree to grow at an increased rate.
Broken components: Over time, the strength of growing tree roots can break pipes apart, damage the tank, or disrupt the drain field. System contamination: Compromised septic systems can lead to untreated waste leaking into the surrounding environment, posing a significant health hazard.
Woodland planting may only be carried out at distances greater than 10.0 metres from the pipe or sewer.
When a tree root penetrates your septic tank, it absorbs the nutrients from the water inside the septic system. As a result, the root will also absorb the chemicals from that water. Not only could you be facing thousands of dollars in repairs, but the tree will be producing fruit that is unsafe to eat.
Typically, the drainfield consists of three to five trenches that are 18 to 24 inches deep, up to 100 ft long, with a perforated pipe in 12 to 18 inches deep gravel covered by 12 inches of soil.
You should plant as far away from the system as the tree will be when it's fully grown. So, since skyrocket junipers typically grow 20 feet tall, plant it at least 20 feet away from the system. Ornamental cherries (zones 5-8): A gorgeous flowering tree that usually grows between 30 and 50 feet.
As for what you can plant over your septic tank and drain field, grasses (including ornamental grasses) often work best. Their shallow root systems are less likely to invade the septic system and cause damage. For the same reason, small, non-woody ground covers are a good choice.
Trees also present a problem if they fall or are cut down and land onto your leach field. Depending on the weight, and location of the tree and your system, it's possible that this damage affects pipes or the leach field by compacting the soil and rock that needs to accept the effluent to drain into the ground.
Grass is the ideal cover for drainfields. Grasses can be ornamental, mowed in a traditional lawn, or in an unmowed meadow. Or, you can try groundcovers and fems. The key to planting over the drainfield is to select shallow-rooted, low-maintenance, low-water-use plants.
A properly designed, installed and maintained field will need to be replaced once every 15 to 30 years. If the field is not designed and constructed adequately or receives poor maintenance, it may need to be replaced before the 15 years.
Many homeowners plant trees in the middle of the yard. If positioned too closely to your home, a maturing tree can take root and slowly push your house out of the way. We recommend planting trees at least 15-20 feet away from your house to prevent problems with roots or overhanging branches.
Golden raintree is a recommended tree for urban landscapes near sewer lines. Smoketree is a unique, diminutive tree with a small root system.
Removing roots from your septic tank costs from $1,000 to $5,000. Over time, tree and plant roots grow into the tank or pipes. If the issue is minor, the job can be done cheaply.
Are tree roots in a sewer line covered by insurance? Not usually. While insurance may help cover damage to your property caused by tree roots, it generally won't cover costs associated specifically with the sewer lines.
This varies depending on the tree species, but obviously, the further away from your leach field, the better. Keeping trees at least 50 feet away from septic systems is ideal, but if you plan on growing plants like willows, shoot for 100 feet. Give your leach field a wide berth when planning out your landscape.
Plant grass or keep existing native vegetation. These are the best covers for your drainfield. Direct all surface drainage away from the septic system. Use shallow-rooted plants (see plant list above).
While you should consider all of the factors above, many professionals believe that the maximum weight for a leach field is around 10,000 pounds. Still, it's important to be cautious of what you choose to do over your leach field to ensure it's working properly.
Your home insurance may cover damage to your septic tank, leach field and connecting pipes if the damage is caused by a sudden, accidental event the policy covers, such as fire, hail and lightning. However, it's important to read your policy carefully to check for exclusions.
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.
Heavy traffic, parking, or construction operations over the drain field can compact the soil in the region surrounding the drain field, which can impair the soil's capacity to treat wastewater properly. Compacted soil impairs proper effluent percolation, resulting in poor drainage and wastewater backup.
Generally speaking, septic drain lines are buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and the pipes are surrounded by gravel and sand to aid in the filtration and water treatment process.
You don't want to plant any kind of tree on your drain field. The roots are going to clog the field and you will over time have back up of sewerage.
In general, the EPA discourages building on septic drainfields, but there are a few things you can do that are generally considered safe. These can include open-air kennels for pets, lightweight swing sets, or small volleyball or badminton nets.