What to plant in front of this deck without damaging septic?
katemartha (z5/6 nj)
3 years ago
Hi all! Recently moved into an old, 1800s cape cod with this deck off the back of the house. I’d really like to “hide” and soften up the hard lines of the deck by possibly adding some loose shrubs or other plantings in front of that white lattice.
The issue is our septic is located right in that bit of lawn directly in front of the deck, and I’ve read i should avoid planting anything with deep roots, etc. in that area.
Are there any plantings you would recommend for this spot? If not, any other creative ideas that might work to help soften up this tall deck?
Thanks for all your help!
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Comments (20)
laceyvail 6A, WV
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Tree Planting and Septic Systems
Comments (13)first off .... how much property are we talking... when i think PASTURE.. i think a minimum of my 5 acres .... if you have over 5 acres.. i have no idea why you would want to mess with planting anywhere within 100 feet of the field .... you just shouldn't have the need ... now.. that said .... you should contemplate the picture you are trying to create ... as in any good painting.. the big stuff should be far away .... and come down naturally to the forefront of the picture ...i am presuming the field is close to the house.. as there would be no reason to lay 1000 feet of pipe from the house .... so the area closest to the house should be very low .... increasing in height as you move away from the house .... for the sake of a nice picture .... ergo .. you can put in a nice perennial garden.. of even mini conifers ..... my best advice to you.. based again.. on the presumption that you have enough space.. is to stay far away with big trees... anything that can get over 100 feet ... it just isn't worth it .... below is an oft posted picture of a maple .. taken when the neighbor had to replace his septic field.. for reasons other than the maple .... we are on at least 20 feet of pure yellow sand ... and i doubt a tree could clog a system ... but i am not going to plants huge trees to find out if i am right ....lol.. GOOD LUCK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE .... ken...See MorePlanting trees DESPITE septic tank/leach lines
Comments (29)IF you are willing to shell out the hefty expense that could be needed to repair the septic system and IF you are willing to treat religiously with the copper sulphate, then go ahead and leave the trees in place. But I think you are just asking for trouble. Root barriers are a possible short term solution - they will only delay the inevitable and can just as easily negatively impact the health of the trees if needed to be installed too close to the trunk or current root ball. There are very good reasons why it is advised to plant trees well away from septic systems - it just creates very costly problems that can impact not ony your plumbing, but a well if you have one and groundwater. Tree roots spread out a great distance, some much further than others -- a good rule of thumb is 2-3 times the mature spread of the tree. And several of those you have planted are considered no-no's within a 100' of a septic system. But it's your choice.......:-) Does this Copper Fungicide CuSO4 stuff come with a full repair your septic tank for xxx year guarantee or do it's seller's have no faith in the product? New cars come with warranties. That's one of the sillier questions/statements I've seen in awhile! Copper sulphate is a chemical with a host of different usages - it was not invented or intended specifically to "cure" root problems with septic systems but has found to be moderately effective in doing so. But when you are dealing with living organisms (trees) there are NO guarantees about anything -- these are not new cars. The only 'guarantee' you can expect to realize when it comes to dealing with tree roots potentially damaging a septic system is to NOT plant them anywhere close....See MoreHelp deck design w/ propane tank & septic field close
Comments (9)Consider building a much smaller deck that leads to a patio. Is that a water faucet beneath the three window grouping? If so, it could be altered be usable elsewhere. What is between the garage and house -- is that outdoor niche empty of anything that would prohibit you putting something there? Where do the septic line(s) and gas line(s) and any electrical connections exit/enter? If that recess/niche house and garage is clear, you could utilize it for reaching steps that access a back yard patio and garden. Know where your utility pipes and wires ingress/egress your home are located and you can create a sizeable backyard patio and garden without disturbing them -- leave a line of grass atop them with only a paver or two with grass between to go from one side to the other.. Begin by adding an 8' deep deck from the left of the back door to the right corner of the house and four feet beyond the corner. Then add a four feet wide deck/walkway alongside the right side of the house (within the niche on the left side of the niche) all the way to the back of the niche -- all the way back to the section of the house that connects with the garage. Beside that 4' side deck/walkway wrapped around the back right corner of the house you can create a landing in the corner between the garage and the part of the house that connects the house to the garage. From that landing, you can create steps that walk down and away from the house to access your back yard patio. Size your landing so that your last step ends with its front riser even with the outer edge of your 8' deck....See MoreCan I add soil without damaging these trees?
Comments (8)Gg's answer is correct. FWIW a moronic neighbor had his "best landscaper in the county"* pile what looked like 4 to 6 inches of top soil on top of most of the root zone of a junk tree, probably a norway maple. To grade it to match some hardscaping he had done. Within a couple years, parts of the canopy were dying. But the hideous thing struggled on - it was almost a decade before he got tired of having said "best landscaper" trim dead branches out of the canopy. Point is, changing soil level on top of root zone is a bad idea, but it can cause only a slow death in some cases. (and probably a fast one in others) * PS - a laughable accolade - I had one encounter with this bonehead and decided never to utilize his services. He had a bad attitude and seemed likely to be aggressively ignorant about some topics - which he obviously did prove himself to be, some years later, about grading over the roots of a mature tree in the neighbor's yard. I'll always wonder if that was the same guy who cut down a monkey puzzle at an Edwardian-era estate in New Castle County, Delaware, one of the only on the east coast, for "not looking English enough"! Perhaps the most risible 'anecdotes indicting an entire profession in a part of the world' I know of. We lead the world in many, many areas, but overall horticultural savvy is not one of them. As it would take any observant visitor to the suburbs of a major city in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, FR, or DE only a few minutes to determine. (Slivers of certain areas of the US do a little better, like the PNW)...See Moreken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years agokatemartha (z5/6 nj)
3 years agokatemartha (z5/6 nj)
3 years agokatemartha (z5/6 nj)
3 years ago
Christopher CNC
3 years agokatemartha (z5/6 nj)
3 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years agokatemartha (z5/6 nj)
3 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
Fori
3 years ago
Olychick
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI'd paint that lattice a soft green, similar to the color of your house
(I think)..it will blend into the new plants in front of it and nearly
disappear.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
3 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
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Christopher CNC