Landscaping: How close can I plant near septic or well

Replies: 19 Views: 92

Author	Comment
Lambscaper Driftwood, PA April 1, 2008 2:57 PM	Does anyone know how close to a well or septic drainfield can I safely plant a weeping willow? I wanted to plant a willow tree on a hillside, halfway between my well and drainfield. My propsed site is where there is a seep that keeps the ground wet fall, winter and spring. Thanks
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) April 1, 2008 3:21 PM	How much distance are we talking about? Willows have extremely invasive roots so I don't think you'd want them getting into your septic area, and unless you have a very large yard I suspect you're probably too close.
zenpotter Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) April 2, 2008 8:30 AM	Willows seek water and would really mess up your tank. Here is a good article. [HYPERLINK@www.extension.umn.edu]
Lambscaper Driftwood, PA April 2, 2008 10:21 AM	The site where I wanted to plant the willow is on a spring seep, I was hoping the tree would soak up the water in that spot. It is about 35 feet up hill from the drainfield. I guess I will look for a moisture loving tree with a less invasive root system. (It will also need to be acid tolerant) Any suggestions....maybe a birch?
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) April 2, 2008 10:28 AM	Unfortunately I don't think having a tree there is going to make much of a difference on the water. Even water loving trees only need so much water to live and just because it's a tree that doesn't mind having wet feet doesn't mean it's going to sit there and drink up all that water. If you want to plant things there then by all means do so, but if the only reason you're planting things is because you want to get rid of the standing water it's not going to do the job for you so I wouldn't waste your time. I'm not sure if birches have invasive roots or not, hopefully someone else will know. But tree roots can extend 35 ft eventually, so personally I'd consider some shrubs, or plant a rain garden or something there instead rather than take a chance on messing up your septic.
zenpotter Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) April 2, 2008 11:08 AM	Can you use it to build a small stream?
doccat5 Fredericksburg, VA (Zone 7b) April 2, 2008 11:12 AM	Read my article on rain gardens I think this might solve your problem. [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] There are additional sites on there that can give you some great ideas on how to set this up! Good luck..
zenpotter Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) April 2, 2008 12:28 PM	I googled rain garden PA and this is an interesting site it has several links to sites for PA. Remember think native plants. [HYPERLINK@www.raingardennetwork.com]
flowerjen central, NJ (Zone 6b) April 2, 2008 10:00 PM	30 feet
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) April 2, 2008 11:02 PM	Unfortunately you can't give a blanket number like 30 feet for something like this...when you're dealing with things like willow trees that have wide spreading invasive roots, 30 feet is too close. But if you have a small well behaved tree/shrub, you could probably plant it even closer than that and have no trouble. So it really depends on what you're planting.
JasperDale Long Beach, CA (Zone 10a) April 3, 2008 12:01 AM	Contrary to what a lot of people think, roots of trees and plants do not "seek" water. They grow in RESPONSE TO water. If soil is moist, the roots will remain there and grow. It's not like they have eyes or a brain that enables them to actively search for water.
flowerjen central, NJ (Zone 6b) April 3, 2008 1:10 AM	30-40' was the recommendation I got from the arbor day foundation. Rather be safe than sorry, wouldn't want to wreck my well or septic because I wanted a tree closer to the house.
doccat5 Fredericksburg, VA (Zone 7b) April 3, 2008 8:33 AM	ecrane, I don't think you understand the principles of a rain garden. Those plants are not a waste of time, she could have both her tree and a beautiful garden that will help filter and protect the water that's going into her well. Lambscaper, if I may suggest, you might want to contact your local extension agent. Explain your problem and I'll bet they can help you with a list of trees/shrubs that grow well in PA in those kind of conditions. Ask them if a tree and a rain garden with native plants is a viable alternative. Rain gardens are designed to help filter and protect the watershed, so if that would work for you it would be a big plus in protecting your well water from any type of contamination. Having lived with a well for over 20 years that's one of the first things on my mind anytime the county is doing spraying or road work. We are very, very careful about what is planted around it and we do not use poisons anywhere close to it. Good luck.
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) April 3, 2008 10:03 AM	Nope, never said a rain garden was a waste of time. I actually was the first to suggest it as a good option to consider! What was a waste of time was planting trees and things there hoping that it was going to make all the standing water go away.
Lambscaper Driftwood, PA April 3, 2008 10:27 AM	Thank you to everyone for their input. I looked at the links about raingardens- very interesting, but not applicable to my situation. I think I will go with "better safe than sorry" and plant some shrubs.
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) April 3, 2008 10:35 AM	I'm curious why the rain garden isn't applicable to your situation? It sounds to me like it would be a perfect area for one. I'm not trying to say that you have to plant one if you'd rather have shrubs or something, but I don't see why it wouldn't work for you.
zenpotter Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) April 3, 2008 10:52 AM	The following was taken from the link above that I posted from the University of MN. Link posted again below. *Do not place trees and shrubs ON the mound; they may be planted at the foot or on side slopes. Frame the mound with trees and shrubs at a distance, but use only herbaceous (non-woody) plants on the mound itself. Trees should be planted a minimum of 20 feet from the edge of the mound. Trees known for seeking water reservoirs, such as poplar, maple, willow and elm, should be planted at least 50 feet from the mound. Shrubs should not be planted on top of the mound. There is several other recommendations on that opening page under the title: Guidelines for Planting on and Near Septic Mounds [HYPERLINK@www.extension.umn.edu]
Lambscaper Driftwood, PA April 6, 2008 12:01 AM	A rain garden in the middle of an open field would be a deluxe salad bar for the resident deer and occasional elk. I could try to fend them off but fencing a few bushes would be easier.
zenpotter Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) April 6, 2008 10:41 AM	Look for plants that deer don't like.
doccat5 Fredericksburg, VA (Zone 7b) April 7, 2008 5:25 PM	Lambscaper, a lot of the native plants that are ideal for a rain garden are deer resistant and bunnies are not to fond of them either. Check with the PA Native Plant Society for some ideas.

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