Septic Systems and Landscaping

Your guide to septic safe plants…

You’ve just installed your new septic system and you’re left with a dirt patch. Or you are tired of the boring green landscape. You want to enhance your curb appeal and keep your yard septic friendly. Here are some tips for septic safe plants and landscaping.

Why Plant On Your Septic System

You may have been scared away from planting on your septic system. And for good reason. Invasive tree roots can wreak havoc on leach fields, but certain plants and landscaping can actually help the efficiency of your system.

Types of Septic Safe Plants

The best septic safe plants for over your system and leach field are short-rooted plants perennials and grasses (including ornamental grass). Grasses and flowers reduce erosion of the soil over your leach field, regulate moisture and can help reduce flooding after heavy rains. And they optimize the exchange of oxygen in the soil needed to filter the last of the bacteria from your wastewater. Their shallow root systems are less likely to invade the underground system and cause damage. Herbaceous (non-woody) ground covers are also a good choice.

Things to consider when deciding what to plant

• If the area is sunny, consider these perennials for sunlit areas

• If the spot does not get much sun, you will probably be happier with these shade-garden plants.

• The soil around leach fields is sometimes wetter than average, sometimes saltier than average, and sometimes both. Cover both bases with perennials such as bee balm, hollyhocks, and wild violets, which tolerate both wet ground and salt.

• Bambi will not turn his nose up at plants growing over septic systems, so if you find yourself keeping similar company as Snow White, you will want to look into deer-resistant perennials and deer resistant ground covers, as well as spring bulbs and ornamental grasses that deer do not eat.

It is not safe to eat food crops grown in the ground around a drain field because eating them might entail ingesting harmful bacteria. Any trees or shrubs that you plant should be planted as far from the your septic system as they are tall. So a tree that reaches 30 feet in maturity will need to be planted at least 30 feet away from your septic system.

If you must grow trees and shrubs, shallow-rooted kinds are better to grow around septic tank drain fields. Shallow-rooted trees and shrubs include:

• Dogwood trees

• Japanese maple trees

• Eastern redbud trees

• Cherry trees

• White Oak

• Azalea shrubs

• Boxwood shrubs

• Holly shrubs

The ideal plant is simple grass, as it take sthe least amount of work and has short roots. If you plant flowers, stick to flowering annual or perennial bulbs with short roots or wildflowers.

If you’re tired of grass try a clover mix (microclover/ecograss/carex pensylvanica dwarf, white clover, carpets (thyme, sedums, low-growing ground covers), shallow, short/soft rooted perennials, and moss)

Try to stick with plants that are native to your area (most of Paradise and Magalia are zones 8 & 9). They will have the best reaction with your climate. For more septic safe trees by zone, check out this link, or consult a local garden center and inform them you are landscaping around a septic system.

The Bad Plants

Deep roots are deadly for a septic system and leach field. They can penetrate and clog pipelines, leach field lines, and the tank itself. Trees and shrubs to generally be avoided include:

• Pussy and Japanese Willow Shrubs

• Aspen Trees

• Poplar Trees

• Birch Trees

• Beech Trees

• Cedar

• Elm Trees

• Maple Trees (except Japanese Maple Trees)

• Sweetgum Trees (Eucalyptus)

• Ash Trees

• Tulip Trees

• Cypress trees

• Walnut trees

• Bamboo

Stay away from plants that require frequent work, the less you are disrupting the soil the better. There is no need to water your plants more than absolutely necessary, or add soil to the area. Always wear gloves when gardening near your septic system.

Surrounding Area Landscaping

While not in direct contact with your septic system, it is important to landscape the rest of your yard accordingly.

• Large trees should be removed from the general area as their roots can spread far and wide. The rule of thumb is to keep all trees at least 100 feet from your home and septic tank.

• Use barriers, natural or man made, to discourage traffic over your system. This especially applies to vehicle parking. Make it obvious! Do not park on your septic tank or drain field.

• Use mulch, flowerbeds, rain gutters and drains to divert excess water from your leach field.

Just because you have a septic system doesn’t mean your yard has to be barren. It doesn’t even have to be just grass. Stay with septic-safe plants to avoid the headache of a damaged system while enjoying your yard and landscaping.

7 Signs and Symptoms of Septic Tank System Problems

When your septic tank system is not operating correctly, you will be able to see telltale signs if you know where to look.

1. Pipe Gurgling Sounds

If you flush the toilet or run the water and hear gurgling coming from the pipes it may be an indication the tank is full, needs pumping or has other problems.

2. Toilet Flushing Issues

When the toilet is slow to flush or won’t flush, and a plunger doesn’t fix the issue it could be something wrong with the septic system. It could be the tank is full, something that’s easily solved by having the tank pumped. It may also be an indication of a clog in the pipes.

3. Slow Drains

3. If the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or bathtub are draining slowly, it could point to a problem with the pipes in your home (time to call a plumber) or the septic system (time to call Magneson Tractor Service).

4. Water Backup

If water is backing up when you run the washing machine or worse yet sewage has backed up into the house, it’s time to call for help.  Sewage backups are one of the worse symptoms of a failing septic system.

5. Bad Odors

All you need to tell that something is wrong with the septic tank is a good sense of smell. Keep getting a whiff of rotten eggs in summer? Unless they are leftover from the last Easter Egg hunt, you are likely smelling toxic sulfur.  If you walk outside near where the septic tank is buried and the smell increases it’s possible raw sewage has escaped the tank.

6. Greener Grass

The grass getting greener in one area of the yard is not a result of rain hitting that one location. One of the first signs the septic leach field is failing is the grass is growing faster or greener than the rest of the property. The lawn is enjoying the extra fertilizer at the roots, and this means the septic could be experiencing issues.

7. Patches of Standing Water

When you walk in the yard and see puddles or patches of standing water near the drain field it is a sign something is very wrong with the septic system. The system is failing, so smelly water is accumulating at the drain field, something that can pose a health hazard and must be addressed immediately. At the first sign of puddles near the septic tank, call in the experts!

Causes of Septic Tank Problems

Often septic tank problems are caused by things entering the tank that shouldn’t be by way of the toilet, kitchen sink, or garbage disposal.

The only item that should be flushed down the toilet (in addition to human waste) is septic safe toilet paper.  The kitchen sink should be gray water only avoiding solids and heavy use of the garbage disposal.

Understanding Potential Leach Field Problems

Avoid these common septic tank problems associated with issues near the leach field.

• Never park a car or heavy equipment over the drain field. The excess weight will cause problems such as cracking and buckling that can upset the function of the tank.

• The area above the drain field should be obstruction free. Heavy items or traffic can result in the pipe below becoming compromised. If the pipe becomes compacted and then broken, this can cause damage to your leach field and can be a costly repair to make.

• Sludge overload near the drain field can result in sulfite and bio-mat buildup, both of which require a septic technicians expertise to alleviate before your system backs up.

• When grease is poured down the sink or into toilets, it will eventually cool and harden down the line. Hardened fats can cause capping, the cutting off of all oxygen in the system, and will damage the leach field.

• Never plant any new trees near the septic tank drain field. Roots will eventually seek out moisture underground, and will penetrate the tank, drain field or pipes associated with the septic system. Once the roots reach the source of the moisture, they will grow rapidly and cause significant damage.

To avoid any septic tank problems in the future, call the experts at Magneson Tractor Service to check your system before trouble arises.

Bacteria In Septic Tanks

Although their work is not glamorous, bacteria in septic tanks are the work horses of your system. Keep the bacteria in your septic tank happy and healthy.

While inspections and pumping go a long way, many are surprised to find that your septic tank is a living organism—at least the bacteria living there are. With trillions of bacteria naturally present and working to decompose the solid waste in your tank, it is important to know how to take care of them without upsetting the system.

What Are The Bacteria Living In Your Tank?

Bacteria are separated into two categories: Aerobic and Anaerobic. Aerobic Bacteria are more efficient than their counterpart when it comes to breaking down and using waste as fuel. However, they need plenty of oxygen to survive and are highly sensitive to environmental changes. With little to no need for oxygen and more resilience to environmental changes, the climate of a septic tank suits Anaerobic Bacteria better.

How Do Bacteria Help Your Septic System?

With solid waste often settling on the bottom of your septic tanks, it is hard for the flow, pumps and filters to reach it once it is on the bottom. Enter bacteria! They work to break down solids by digesting the waste as their fuel and excreting is as liquids and gasses. In fact, they are so efficient that they can handle decomposing up to 50% of the waste in your septic tank.

Is Other Maintenance Required?

While 50% is a substantial amount and goes a long way to keeping your septic system in working order, the bacteria need a helping hand. As the undigested solids begin to build up, it can become suffocating and hard for the bacteria stay ahead. To keep the colonies of bacteria healthy it is suggested to have your tank inspected every 5 to 7 years and pumped when the solid waste level is over 25% of your tank.  When you get your tank inspected, your septic professional can recommend whether a pumping is needed. Keep in mind, a system does NOT need to be pumped in order to be inspected.

What Can Disrupt Septic Tank Bacteria?

Although not on purpose, there are a few common household chemicals and practices that can hurt bacteria colonies over time. This list includes:

• Household Chemicals

Liquid bleach, disinfectant cleaners, drain cleaners, non-degradable detergents, solvents (such as paint thinners), insecticides and some prescription drugs such as antibiotics or strong medications. While anaerobic bacteria are resilient and able to handle the occasional chemical, large quantities can kill the colonies over time.

• Antibacterial Cleaning Products

Marketed to kill bacteria, hand soaps and other antibacterial cleaners are designed to not only keep your hands, counter tops and household clean, they can also kill off the bacteria in your septic system. We aren’t suggesting stopping washing your hands, but keep this in mind when thinking about the longevity of your septic tank.

• Flushable Wipes

Flushable wipes don’t decompose, leaving layers and layers of unbroken down solids that bacteria have a hard time decomposing.

• Septic Additives

Like many things, the natural process doesn’t need your help. Even the EPA agrees, stating that septic additives “may actually hinder effective septic system operation by destroying useful bacteria that aid in the degradation of waste, resulting in disrupted treatment activity and the discharge of contaminants.” So we say, don’t waste your money! If you do want to lend your system a helping hand check out this blog post that separates fact from myth on how to bolster the health of your bacterial colonies.

The stakes are high to keep your septic system in top condition, and that means keeping the trillions of bacteria happy and healthy! Have questions? Give us a call today!

Where’s My Septic?

When you know exactly where the septic tank is located on your property, it can make it easier to perform regular maintenance. There is going to come a time when your tank is going to need to be inspected, pumped, and maintained. Ignoring inspections and maintenance and waiting until the system has a visible problem will significantly reduce the lifespan of the entire system in addition to creating a potential health hazard.

3 Ways to Locate Your Septic Tank

Even though septic tanks may be difficult to find buried underground, you can easily locate your septic tank to perform regular maintenance.

#1 Visually Search for The Tank

Over the course of a few years, grass growing in your yard can easily conceal the location of the septic tank to the point the entire yard looks identical.

Start walking slowly around the yard and feel if there are any unexpected low or high spots that could be the indication of a drain field or tank.

Typically, a tank is placed between 10-25 feet from the house. Since most tanks will not be closer than 5 feet, you can start the visual search from there. Grass growing greener or healthier in one isolated area could be that the tank has leaked and is fertilizing that location.

#2 Perform A Records Search

One of the best ways to pinpoint exactly where the septic tank is on your property is to perform a records search.

If you still have a copy of your original home inspection, there may be an attached document called the “as-built.” This diagram will show exactly how far from the house the septic tank was installed. Even though landmarks on the property may have changed, measurements should still give you the ability to find the location.

If you do not have these documents, Paradise Town Hall or Butte County Environmental Health will have the permanent records.

#3 Use Septic Tank Risers

When the septic tank was originally installed in the ground, the company in charge may have included a septic tank riser so their technician can find the tank easily for inspections and maintenance. These risers are installed at ground level, allowing for easier access and less digging to find your tank lid. The septic tank riser is a plastic or concrete pipe that will run vertically from access points or pump-out openings to a few inches above the ground.

Once the tank is located, it is best to call in a septic tank company. Opening the tank yourself is potentially dangerous depending on the condition of the system. There are special tools needed for servicing the tank, and this process is always best left to the experts. Keep a record of the tank location for future reference, so you never have to conduct this search again.

We hope this will also help in locating tanks for those still needing mark outs done for debris clean up. If you need assistance with marking out your property, or its just time for an inspection contact us here or give us a call at 530-961-3171