Landscaping With Risers
Though a septic tank riser provides easy access to your sewer system, it is also an eyesore that can upset the balance of your lawn and gardens. Rather than leaving the space around the septic riser bare, use various shrubs, grasses and flowers to disguise the riser and minimize foot traffic around the entire area. This area is where wastewater is dispersed, and is referred to as a septic tank system soil absorption field. Look for plants with short root systems that cannot interfere with the riser, as well as those that are low-maintenance and prefer dry soils. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant ornamental grasses around the septic tank riser. Since most risers do not extend more than 24 inches from the ground, ornamental grasses are an easy option for disguising this unattractive addition to your lawn. Choose taller varieties, such as feather reed grass, blue fescue and perennial fountain grass, to plant around the riser. Use smaller varieties, such as blue lymegrass, in front of taller ornamental grasses to create a grass garden. It is essential to minimize traffic around a septic tank riser because too much traffic around the area can cause soil compaction, which can affect how the soil disperses tank wastewater. Plant turfgrasses in lieu of or in addition to ornamental grasses, as turfgrass features a fiberous root system that hold soil well.
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Disguise the riser by planting shrubs around it. Use drought-resistant varieties whose roots will not interfere with the riser, such as black huckleberry, climbing rose, deerberry, downy arrowwood, bearberry, golden Saint John's wort and sweet fern. Do not plant shrubs where roots can become tangled with drain pipes and field trenches in your septic tank soil absorption field. Plant shrubs 10 feet outside of the soil absorption field for best results.
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Plant tall perennial flowers around the riser, such as oriental poppies, prairie sunflower, hollyhocks or lenten roses. Use perennials to create a colorful flower garden around your riser. Perennials are ideal for disguising risers as you will not have to worry about re-planting new flowers each year to cover the tank. Use native wildflowers as another cover option, as these flowers do well in dry conditions. Plant native varieties such as wild garlic, white prairie clover, western sunflower, wild geranium, wild bergamot, smooth blue aster and rough blazing star.
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Hide septic system risers or pipes with bird feeders or flat face rocks, such as those that feature images of star "faces." Use bird feeders or rocks that can be easily removed for maintenance purposes.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not cultivate the soil in a potential septic system location, as the soil must stay in its natural state before work begins.
Locate potential septic system locations before building your house.
Do use plants around your septic riser that thrive in wet soils, as the root systems of such plants can interfere with the riser.
Native grasses generally do not do well if mowed frequently.
Wear gloves while handling soil around septic tanks.
Ask staffers at your local nursery or garden supply store for advice about which native plants will thrive in your region.
Root barriers, such as herbicide-treated geotextile fabric, can be used around a septic tank riser to prevent plant root interference, though it is generally a better idea to use plants whose roots cannot damage the riser.
Do not use edible plants around your septic tank riser.
Do not plant trees or shrubs over soil absorption fields, as roots can cause septic system interference.
Water and fertilize a soil absorption field as infrequently as possible.
References
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