Do I need to move my Garden?

emanuelcs34 · #1 09/22/10, 08:26 PM

I am having problems with my septic system. The new Drain field is going to end up in my garden area. So I am wondering if I need to move the garden so that it won't be over the drain field.
Any suggestions? Not sure what to do here.
Thanks

Backfourty,MI. · #2 09/22/10, 09:02 PM

If it were me I would move my garden but I'm not sure if it really is a needed thing or just something that I'd always be worried about for nothing. I'd rather be safe than sorry I guess.
I'm sure there will be folks here that know for a fact rather you HAVE to move it or not.

Patt · #3 09/22/10, 09:36 PM

I would move it, better safe than sorry!

mommagoose_99 · #4 09/22/10, 10:24 PM

The rules for Organic Veggie growers is that they compost their manure for 18 months before they use it on veggie plants. Fresh manure can be spread on the fields but it must be solarized for 6 months before a crop can be planted. As a general rule the manure of a carnovore must not be used to grow veggies because of the risk of parasites. Examples of carnivores are dogs and people, although both are really omnivores.
All of this leads me to say, do not grow veggies over the septic tank. Also leach fields usually are covered with gravel not dirt. Dirt will clog up the leach field and your septic won't work right.
Linda

whistler · #5 09/22/10, 11:11 PM

When you water your garden you are adding water to the soil in the leech field and reducing its ability to properly handle waste water. (The roots of your veggies will not grow deep enough to benefit from the waste water and will thus require additional watering.)

That is the number 1 reason not to plant a garden over a leach field, not contamination of vegatables.

BellsBunnies · #6 09/22/10, 11:39 PM

I would move it just to be on the safe side.

lisa's garden · #7 09/23/10, 07:10 AM

I had a garden over the septic field at our last house and asked the guy from the septic company if it was ok first. Background - He was the owner of the company and had answered many of my other questions about septic fields and systems and gave me very good information.

According to him, it is safe to have your garden over a regular septic field. He said that the drain tiles are deep enough that it wouldn't be a problem and that there is gravel under the tiles (not above the tiles, from what I understood) to facilitate the drainage away from the surface.

Now, having said all that, I would still hesitate to put root crops or perennials over the septic field. Perennials might have a deep enough root system that they might clog things and root crops, well that seems obvious.

But if I had another option, I would still have moved my garden to another area.

Good luck!

ronbre · #8 09/23/10, 07:45 AM

i have a raised drainfield behind my house..it is banked with fill from our field to a gentle slope all the way around, and I have planted the slope around it with a ton of plants, and they do very well on it. I put a circular lawn on the top of the drainfield with paths going down to the surrounding lawn, and on the far end of the drainfield there is a small deck with steps going down to an apple tree and shed.

I have only lawn on the very top part, but i have trees, shrubs and perennials all the way around on the banks, and it is beautiful all year around, i totally love it.

I even used to have my greenhouse over the tank, but i moved it over the pex that heats our house and our son's next door, as that soil never freezes..so it is a better place than over the tank, but it was there for years and did great !!

drainfields are underused sources of land..see my blog for photos of our yard (pages and older posts) and gardens..i love my drainfield gardens..also more photos on my facebook site
Brenda Kay Groth on facebook, go to photoalbums

birchtreefarm · #9 09/23/10, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emanuelcs34

I am having problems with my septic system. The new Drain field is going to end up in my garden area. So I am wondering if I need to move the garden so that it won't be over the drain field.
Any suggestions? Not sure what to do here.
Thanks

I had a neighbor one time who had lived and gardened in her house for a couple decades when she needed to have a new system put in. Of course, the county found that the best drainage was right where her garden was. They told her she could garden on the new leach field, but should put in raised beds, so that's what she did.

emanuelcs34 · #10 09/23/10, 08:19 AM

Thanks for all your help, I will talk to them when we get it done, but I am not sure I feel safe with the garden there.

Grandmotherbear · #11 09/23/10, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birchtreefarm

I had a neighbor one time who had lived and gardened in her house for a couple decades when she needed to have a new system put in. Of course, the county found that the best drainage was right where her garden was. They told her she could garden on the new leach field, but should put in raised beds, so that's what she did.

My leach field gets good sun. Part of the garden is in BIG pots- sweet potatoes, squash, basil, over the field.

rambler · #12 09/23/10, 11:22 AM

As others say, I'd be more concerned about the leach field, than the garden issues. You could be very hard on the leach field, depending on your soil type, winter conditions, and amount of garden watering you do. I'd not want to risk the possible damage tot he leach field.

I'd have minor thoughts about the 'ick' factor wich would be in the back of my head for a time.....

--->Paul

Kmac15 · #13 09/23/10, 11:45 AM

I would also have more concerns about the the leaching aspect then the garden aspect.
Worry about the impact of garden tractors or tillers on the field and the added water.

If this is not a worry for you, how about planting flowers there.

Silvercreek Farmer · #14 09/23/10, 06:48 PM

My grandparents have gardened over the top of their leach field for over 50 years with no adverse effects on either...

wy_white_wolf · #15 09/23/10, 07:58 PM

This is from an old thread that I found:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

With a garden over your drainfield, first of all, I'd be a bit concerned about roto-tilling your garden.....depending on the depth of the trench, you could dig into it.

Secondly, your drainfield area does not need any more water applied to it. Consequently, you shouldn't water a garden over a drainfield.

Lastly, if you live in a northern climate, you want a ground cover over the drainfield to catch snow for insulation.

Safety? Yes, it is perfectly safe to grow veggies over the drainfield (assuming your drainfield is functioning properly.)

I wouldn't as I have other areas to garden and a drainfield is to costly to replace