What Can You Put on Top of a Septic Drain or Leach Field?
Whether you already have a septic system or are looking to add one, having a drain field installation is important to keep it in tip-top shape. Here are some do’s and don’ts of what you can put on top of a septic drain field and why.
How a Septic Drain Field Works
A typical drain field has a series of perforated pipes that are placed in trenches and buried. Septic filters separate solids from liquids that flow into drainage fields. The soil in these fields is what absorbs the wastewater from septic pipes. Microbes in the earth will then filter and clean the runoff before the harmful bacteria reaches the groundwater.
These microbes do require oxygen to work, and compact or saturated soil reduces the oxygen flow. That’s why you must keep excessive weight and traffic off the drainage field, in addition to excessive moisture. It is best to design your landscape so all the runoff from your roof, driveway, or sprinklers stays away from the field. Though it does call for some strategic thinking, there are some benefits to landscaping your drainage field. Putting something on top will mitigate erosion, so you will want about 1-2 feet of soil over your pipes all the time. The right plants will optimize oxygen for the microbes, and other items can go on top so it doesn’t look like a drain field.
Plants: Do’s and Don’ts
The best plants to place on top of a septic drain field are shallow-rooted herbaceous ones. These can include bulbs, perennials, weeds, turf-grass, groundcovers, and more. Some examples are boxwood shrubs, holly shrubs, azalea shrubs, spring bulbs, hollyhocks, and wild violets.
For information about the drain field installation services that ASAP Statewide Septic can provide, please do not hesitate to dial this number (786) 288-3673 now we are based in the Miami Gardens, FL area.