Spring Planting and Your Septic System

January 18th, 2019 Posted in Septic System
Comments Off on Spring Planting and Your Septic System

Spring is a great time to update your landscaping. Adding new trees, shrubs and flower gardens can add beauty and value to your home. However, before you grab your shovel and rake to begin your spring planting, consider where you plan to add new foliage and how it could impact your septic system.

Roots and Septic Pipes

One of the biggest hazards to sewer pipes in your yard is the roots of trees searching for moisture. Tree roots can grow tens of feet out from a base of a tree trunk to collect water. If sewer pipes are nearby, tree roots will try to infiltrate them to get to the tempting moisture inside.

To protect your sewer pipes from expensive damage and root clogs, plan carefully when planting new trees. You will want to keep trees far way from your septic pipes to prevent problems down the road as they get larger.

Plants and Drain Fields

Another area to avoid when planting this spring is your drain field. The smaller pipes for your drain field are close to the surface and can easily be impacted plant roots, even smaller shrubs and bushes. Your drain field should only be covered with grass, no other plants, to prevent damage to this crucial component of your septic system.

Keep in mind how your landscaping can impact your septic system. If you have issues with your septic pipes or drain field, it can be caused by the plants and trees in your yard. Your local septic service can investigate the problem and fix any issue your beautiful trees and plants cause with your pipes and drain field.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

, ,
Read More

Septic Fields and Plants

December 29th, 2010 Posted in Drain Field
Comments Off on Septic Fields and Plants

A septic system consists of several components.  The drain pipe collects all of the household wastewater and routes it to the septic tank where the solid waste settles to the bottom of the tank.  The liquid waste flows from the septic tank out into the drain field (also called a leech field) where it percolates into the soil.

The drain field is a series of perforated pipes buried a few feet underground in your yard.  The drain field is usually installed in a flat area cleared of vegetation.  Once the septic system is installed, the question that often arises is what type of plants can be planted over the drain field.

The short answer is that plants with shallow root systems are OK to plant over a septic field.  Any sort of plants, trees, or shrubs with deep root systems can cause very serious problems with your septic system. Since the septic field is made from perforated pipes, it is very easy for any deep root systems to infiltrate the septic field and clog the septic field drain lines necessitating an expensive drain field repair.

Grasses and weeds are safe to grow over septic fields.  In fact, a healthy turf lawn will hold the soil in place, minimize erosion, and contribute to a healthy drain field.  Flowers with shallow root systems are also acceptable to grow over a septic field.

Shrubs and trees have root systems that grow too deep to plant over a septic field.  Shrubs and small trees with limited root systems can be planted 30 to 40 feet away from a septic field, but trees and shrubs that bear fruit or that grow extensive roots systems should be planted farther away.

, ,
Read More

Find Local Company | Find Local Sewer Septic Services