TABLE OF CONTENTS Landscaping septic-system areas is often needed to prevent erosion, but these areas have limitations on the types of landscaping that can be done. Obviously, it would not be wise to plant willow trees over a distribution area. The roots of this type of tree would get into the system and wreak havoc.
There are two prime considerations when landscaping a septic area. The first is appearance, and the second is plant choice. Picking the right plants is very important. Other considerations include creating a landscaping plan that will not require a lot of hands-on attention. Traffic, even foot traffic, should be avoided on septic mounds. If the landscaping plan requires frequent maintenance, the foot traffic in the area can be detrimental to the system.
The appearance of a septic area can be enhanced greatly with good landscaping. Some distribution fields are flat and require no more effort than a lawn to fit into the landscape. But mound systems, for example, can be quite noticeable if they are merely planted with grass. A staggering of plants that grow to various heights is a good way to draw attention away from the shape of distribution mounds. Since appearance is a personal matter, we are not going to spend a lot of time on the subject. You and your customers will know the look you are after. However, you might not know what your limitations are, so let s talk about the types of plants that should and should not be used.
