Plants for a Septic Garden

Irises work well for septic drain fields.

Plants can thrive over a septic field for creating a septic garden if homeowners use a degree of caution. Plants process moisture in the area, helping the system to function. Plants also improve the appearance of the site.

Plants and Flowers

Herbaceous plants with shallow root systems work best for septic gardens. These include grasses, ornamental grasses and flowers grown from bulbs and rhizomes, such as tulips, irises and dahlias. Homeowners can use daylily and yarrow for sunny locations and hardy begonia, columbine and foxglove for shady sites. Homeowners should avoid plants with water-seeking root systems, such as willow.

Trees

Avoid planting shrubs and trees over a septic field, but you can plant trees such as cherry, dogwood, pine and oak near a septic field. Place the trees at a distance from the drain field greater than the spread of their roots at maturity.

Garden Plants

In order to eliminate any chance that the soil may not remove all viruses and bacteria, the Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests using the drain field only for ornamentals. Avoid planting food plants or garden crops on septic drain field sites.

References

• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Planting on Your Septic Drain Field
• University of Missouri Extension: Septic Tank/Absorption Field Systems: A Homeowner's Guide to Installation and Maintenance
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Landscaping Over Septic Drain Fields

Resources

• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Landscaping Over Septic Drain Fields