how far should I plant trees from my septic system, and specifically how far from each part of the system?

I fear that the largest plant in my new property (a red maple, and an ash sitting next to it) is pretty much on top of my septic tank

how far from the weep field, if any

how old is the system ... modern or archaic ....

and where are you .. some place with 3 inches of soil above rock???

etc

it doesnt sound good

ken

I'd bet most would say 'no trees or woody shrubs within 30 feet of any part, unless you don't mind spending thousands later to have the system rebuilt.'

I think it's more nuanced than that, but yeah, keep the trees back and perhaps watch out for known water seekers (a red maple near a septic? hell, throw in a river birch too! :-) )

Here is a document about the choices - pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-617/426-617_pdf.pdf

I have apple trees near the far edge of my buried drain field and a few dawn redwoods about 50 feet away on another side (all four years old or so). On another edge of the drain field, I have two washington hawthornes, also very young. Near the main tank, no trees or shrubs.

In general, if you are willing to take a 5-6K risk for the trees being all up in your system one day, game on.

I have a tile bed that is surrounded by Scot's Pine and various spruce.....happy coexistence for 45+ years (albeit on sandy soil).

on my mineral sand.. nothing.. i mean nothing.. is going to stop the weep field ... my sand simply will not hold water.. and it will drain away ... which means the tree has no reason to want/need to grow there ...

clay or hard pan rock.. is a whole nother issue ...

what you really need to do.. is contact some of the local septic guys .. and discuss your local area with your local people ..

i once had a well issue .... and spent weeks searching the web ... 5 mins on the phone with the local guy.. got me all the info i needed .. duh on me.. lol ...

ken

After personally experiencing what red and silver maples can to do to a septic tank when growing in close proximity to it(roots under the lid into the tank, forming a huge root-mat, and growing in the effluent pipe from the house, all the way to the toilet and bathtub), I probably would not plant maples or willows anywhere close by - but if they were already there, or I *really* wanted them, I'd just flush CuS04 twice a year, and not worry too much about it.

Trees have priority!

cheers!

My septic is out back. The nearest red maple is on the opposite end of the acre :-) and growing along the natural drainage slew :-)

Of course down here, maple and birch roots are rumored to grow up the downspouts and under slab foundations chaing water and septic tanks can be very hard to place due to the type of soil.

Always talk to a local guy :-)

==>> for what the copper will do.. JUST SEND ME THE MONEY ...

BUT 2 IS A GOOD IDEA ... since its a new property.. find out what is going on under ground.. and talk with the guy about the ramification of what you find.

but all he is going to do.. is look in the tank.. which will tell you nothing about the weep field..

frankly.. KILL THE MAPLE . .. oh i know.. i will show you what the neighbor found next to his maple.. when they dug a new weep field ... i think his is a silver maple.. but who cares.. all maples root like this ... KILL IT

after spending near 5 grand for the rebuild.. he invested another 800 to kill this tree.. later that summer ...

ken

i dont even understand how grass grows on the little sand above the root mass .. hat for scale ..

it is a wonderful specimen :-) stay away from my maple :-)

where are you in z5.. and have you looked into EAB on ash???

a quick call to your county extension office will tell you whether it is an issue in your area ...

ken