Our septic system is directly out our back window. Is there any plants we can put on the field to help protect the birds that we feed?

Indiana Zone 5

Nuckie, just be aware of where the tile bed runs are....and put anything you like in your backyard....from trees, to bushes, to garden plots.

Most...I'd say all, annuals and perennials have so shallow a root system you can plan on putting anything you like there.

Some trees also have such roots and if you think they might interfere, just plant them off to the perimeter of the yard....same for shrubs and bushes.

Try to keep the grass that grows so tall and fast, away from the base of the trees and shrubs. Just makes good sense to have the grass not compete with the other plants and keeps the chances of disease transfer at arm's length.

Just be aware when digging you don't punch a hole into the tile.

Remember what Erma Bombeck said "The grass is always greener over the septic tank"

Ground covers, ornamental grasses and small shrubs are ideal over septic fields. It's a good idea to leave the access to the tank bare or grass covered as it will be dug up every few years. Do not plant trees on or near the septic field. Roots can and will invade the drain pipes causing failure and large costs to fix.

The above mentioned plants will bring insects of all kind for the birds. An idea is to plant flowerng plants to bring butterflies, bees, and critters of all kinds and you can create a small ecosystem to entertain you as you look out.

Now What is correct... and you can trust his advice...

Tree roots can and will disturb.... break, disturpt... the tile fields. Be sure you know where they are and stear clear of them when planting trees.

If you're thinking of low maintainence, check with your county conservation department, and your local county extension service for advice on what grows easily in your area. I'm sure there are lots of prairie grasses and native flowering plants you can plant that will gorw well with little effort.

The only reason you would need to "protect" the birds would be because effluent is coming to the surface and if that is happening you have a problem that needs to be repaired. The best cover for a septic system drainfield is grass because a grass cover allows sunlight to evaporate any moisture from that drainfiled fairly quickly. Other plants tend to hold moisture in the soil too long and also will send roots into the drain field pipes causing major drainage problems in the future. No trees or shrubs should ever be planted with 50 feet of a septic system drainfield, according to the sanitary system engineers.

I agree, JeannieM. misinformation seems to be the goal with some posters... as for the rest of us, I decided to see what the real experts say. Here's what I found:

Here is a direct quote from the Maryland Cooperative Extension:

"OUTSIDE
Direct down spouts and runoff away from the septic field to avoid saturating the area with excess water.
Dense grass cover and other shallow rooted plants are beneficial over a septic field. However, do not plant trees because large plant roots can clog or break the pipes.

Here's the link to the site: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/wye/personel/Miller/septic.html

And from the Virginia cooperative Extension:
"Avoid planting water-loving shrubs with deep root systems or trees near the drain field, as roots could damage the pipes, or they could change moisture levels within the soil causing it to be less effective. "

And thier link is: http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/housing/448-400/448-400.html#L8

From the North Carolina Extension Service:
"Trees or shrubs located closer than 100 feet to septic systems may cause problems. Roots from plants sometimes enter the septic tank drainfield, the tank, or the pipes, preventing the proper working of the septic system. "

And the link to that site: http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/assist/septic/

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Iowa MLE,

MLE and Now WHat offer sage advice. That Virginia site is really informative. May I attempt to offer more advice?? Ornamental grasses provided cover, food and nesting material as well as good looks and fairly shallow root systems. Maintenance is as easy as chopping them low. Slow growing varities don't require much division. Here is a pretty good link from the University of Illinois Extension service on them. I would, of course, not till.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/grasses/

The plain and simple answer to can, might, could is - exactly. One can plant deep rooted plants or trees near a septic field and go years without trouble. Conversely, one can plant a tree twently feet away and the roots take out two lines and it will cost ten to twenty thousand to fix. All depends on what is happening under ground. If one doesn't know the hydrogeology of the property, as most don't, there is no way to know what roots will do. since more times than not tree and large shrub roots are the culprit to failed septic fields, notwithstanding what one puts down a toilet, the prudent thing to do is not plant anything that MAY cause expensive problems years down the road.

I shade is wanted in a backyard with septic system, I suggest arbors and grow clematis, vines or roses. Anything that you may want to anchor in the ground can be done as long as you are sure where the tiles are located so as not to damage when digging. Just remember - if the tiles have to be dug up for whatever reason, then whatever you have made above will have to be removable.

Robine, I think that is a terrific idea. Make 'em waders. Septic fields are nothing to whistle Dixie about.

I think what works for one does not for another.
Sycamores, some Maples, and Willows love a septic system. The gentleman who works on our systems says to use copper sulfate to kill the roots that get into the lines. It's the small roots that creep in and then they hold onto everything.

The only thing that is to go into a system is human waste and TP. I manage a mobile home park and the only problem we have is tree roots from the Sycamores and people putting stuff down the drains that don't belong there.

Copper sulfate will also kill off the biological action necessary for solids reduction in septic systems, thereby increasing pumpout intervals.

Nuckie, Husband (dirt contractor) has put in several septic systems, we also live rural so have personal experience. First of all if system works properly I wouldn't worry about the birds. But when planting or landscaping over and around think about the possibility of future disruptions due to problems with system at very least you may someday need to have it pumped out. Though tree roots may cause problems later in the future (if planted to close) that probably won't happen with a little planning: don't plant trees directly on top of field, keep area accessable for equipment needed for possible digging and pumping, also slope area so water runs away from system, grass is good but you can do other things, at my new home I covered area around tank with plastic and rock put a few strategicly placed planters around it to hide the ugliness of it and found a bird bath that fits perfectly over pipe that comes up, which by the way is needed for future pumping. You may never have problems with your system, my husband always asks homeowner with septic problems "do you have small children?" and if they do chances are the problem is caused by something flushed down the toilet, and the next biggest cause is that oh so soft charmen.

This is just one of 1,000 sites available from people whose job it is to inspect and certify septic systems. None of these people will tell you that you can plant anything over the drainfield except shallow rooted plants and that grass is the best. The drain pipes on my system are 18 to 24 inches deep starting at the end closest to the house at 18 inches and dropping to the 24 inch depth at the farthest point. The Sanitary Code in Michigan is fairly restrictive and will not allow anything to be planted over that drainfield that will send roots into that depth where they will interfere with the distribution of the effluent either the percolation through the soil or the evaporation by the sun.
Check with your county sanitarion about what might be permitted beyond grass.
http://www.inspect-ny.com/septic/fieldplants.htm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KimmSr,

quote:

Some trees also have such roots and if you think they might interfere, just plant them off to the perimeter of the yard....same for shrubs and bushes.

Try telling someone who had to have the whole system dug up because trees were planted over and within 50' of a syptic system..and it cost BIG******$, the only trees I would plant in my front yard (that is where the septic system is) would be "NONE" don't want to pay the price again...

Putting a bed of annuals and perrenials(sp) would be great and some of those wrought iorn feeder holders would add height...Linda

And then there are the willow trees whose roots will travel an amazing number of yards to find water. They will even clog up city sewage lines into homes. I had one on my property and it was about 150 feet from the lines and tank, but the roots made it into the lines. I have had septic tanks for over 40 years now. I stay away from any willows and keep trees a very healthy distance from the fields, lines and tank. Better safe than sorry!