| ||
| InspectAPedia® |
| |
Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair | Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia |
Mobile ViewSEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR ADDITIVES / TREATMENTS for SEPTIC SYSTEMS AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS in the HOME - EPA BOOKS, RECOMMENDED SEPTIC BOOKSTORE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS CHECK VALVES CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS D BOX TROUBLESHOOTING DEFINITIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM TERMS DIFFICULT SEPTIC SITES DISTRIBUTION-BOX INSPECTION, SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC DRYWELL DESIGN & USES FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS LEACHFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? ODORS, PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS Gardens Near Septics Grasses or Flowers Grazing, Animals Ground Cover, Ivy Trees or Shrubs Using Root Killers Using a Roto Rooter PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC AUTHORITIES SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEPTIC BOOK, ONLINE SEPTIC BOOKSTORE SEPTIC BIOMATS SEPTIC CARE INSTRUCTIONS SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES Neighboring Septic System Problems PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE SEPTIC TANK DEPTH SEPTIC to POOL DISTANCE WELL CLEARANCES SEPTIC CODES & REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD RESTORERS? SEPTIC DRAWINGS SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC INSPECTION BOOK SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC SYSTEMS, HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEMS INSPECTION COURSE SEPTIC INSPECTION TYPES & LEVELS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC SYSTEMS ONLINE BOOK SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC SYSTEM TYPES, MASTER LIST SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES SEPTIC TANK COVERS SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK SAFETY SEPTIC TANK SIZE SEPTIC TANK TEES SEPTIC TESTS: DYE & LOADING TESTS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SOAKAWAY BED FAILURE DIAGNOSIS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS, SEPTIC VIDEO GUIDES: Septic Videos WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WASTEWATER TREATMENT BASICS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
This article describes the types of trees, shrubs, or similar plants that should or should not be planted over or near septic fields or other septic system components. Planting trees, shrubs, and even some ground covers over septic system components are causes of septic system failure in the drain field, leach field, seepage bed, or similar components. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.Planting Guidelines for Septic Drainfields, Mounds, Raised Beds, Septic Tanks and other Septic ComponentsPlanting fruit trees, or vegetables (or anything else edible) over the septic drainfield might produce food that is unsafe to eat: see SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES for details. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Guide to Planting Trees or Shrubs Near or Over Septic Absorption Systems
How much distance is needed between trees and septic drainfields?
The actual tree to septic distance needed depends on the tree variety and its normal root growth range. Keep at least as much distance between the tree and the nearest drainfield component as the anticipated height of the tree at its maturity. So if the tree will be 30' tall at maturity keep it at least 30' from the drainfield. Some trees should be kept at much greater distances, up to 100' from septic fields, as we discuss just below. What kinds of trees should be kept farthest away from septic systems?Trees considered to have deep and/or aggressive roots that are likely to damage a drainfield include:
Kahn, Allen, Jones (book cited at Septic Systems Home-References) point out that certain of these trees such as bamboo, weeping willows, eucalyptus, cypress, Monterey pine, pepper, and walnut have particularly aggressive and deep roots. Keep such trees at least 100 feet from the nearest septic field component. Can I Plant Non-aggressive Rooting Trees near Septic Drainfields?Some trees have less aggressive roots and may do less rapid or less extensive damage if they are a bit nearer to septic fields. These include:
OPINION-DF: Some authors accept the near-septic use of these less aggressive trees with the advice that "... their damage is likely to be less severe". This seems silly to me. Any root clogging of septic systems is likely to be costly and inconvenient. If you have a shrub for which you have reliable knowledge about the maximum extent its roots will normally reach, you might think it’d be ok to plant it exactly that distance from the nearest drainfield trench. But I’d be careful: the extra levels of nutrients delivered to the soils by the drainfield may attract roots from nearby trees or shrubs and cause them to travel farther than usual. OPINION-DF: I’d keep shrubs with a “known” root travel distance at least 25% farther than that "known root travel distance" from the edge of a drainfield. Guide to Planting Trees near Septic Mound SystemsSome experts (Kahn, Allen, Jones) also point out that if you're planting on the edges and lower toe of a septic mound, those plants need to be able to tolerate the higher moisture levels found in those parts of the mound system. In the photo at the top of this page, our field in northern Minnesota provided ample room to place septic system components more than 100 feet from the nearest tree. But what about those tire track that show up in light snow? Driving over the drainfield can also damage it. Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about recommended distances from septic drainfields to various trees and shrubsQuestion: septic distances for Norway Pines & Red Spruce Trees?Have you any information on Norway PInes and Red Spruce as i have these planted in my yard and am concerned about there potential damaging effects on my septic system......... thanks.... they r only 4 feet so far so i can transplant them if need be - Will Treeman (4/11) Reply: 40-60 feet for a 20-40-year early tree-life range, longer for longer tree life expectancyTree distances to septic drainfield for red pine / Norway pines
According to Pennsylvania State University "The red pine is a native North American tree species sometimes erroneously called the "Norway pine". ... Red pines grow very rapidly for their first 60 or 70 years of life. They can live for up to 350 years and reach heights of 120 feet and diameters of up to three feet. " [1] Using a 60-year planning time frame, and our rule of thumb for distances of normall-aggressive-root-system trees from septic drainfields, assuming a 60-foot tree height, I'd keep my red pines (or "Norway pines") sixty feet away from the drainfield. 100 feet would be safer as pines can have aggressive root systems. Tree distances from septic drainfield for Red Spruce.According to the University of Maine's Maine Tree Club, "Red spruce can attain a height of 60-80 feet and a diameter of 1-2 feet. It will occasionally exceed these measurements." Synonyms for red spruce include Yellow Spruce, West Virginia Spruce, Eastern Spruce, He-Balsam" Picea rubens, [2] So the same rule of thumb as for red pines applies: if you don't want the trees to ever threaten the septic drainfield for the next 30-60 years, promising the trees a long and happy life, keep them 100 feet from septic drainfields. Note: guessing at the tree root area and health for red spruce is complicated by soil chemistry and nutrients and so guessing root area size based on canopy size is less reliable for this species. [3] Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
Recommend / Share this Article
... Technical Reviewers & References
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Design Manuals for Septic Systems
|
| Home | About Us | Accuracy | Contact Us | Content Use Policy | Privacy | Website Description | © 2012 Copyright InspectAPedia.com |