Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Tuesday - September 22, 2009

From: Poland, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Septic Systems
Title: Plants for a septic system in Poland IN
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Hi, we have a septic system under a large front yard at a newly acquired lake cottage in southern Indiana. The yard is completely unlandscaped. I'm trying to find if there are are any safe trees I could put in and if there are any ornamental grasses or shrubs I should stay away from. We are concerned about roots getting into the septic system.

ANSWER:

You really have to consider the whole system when planting over it, because of the damage roots can cause. The tank should be sealed to prevent roots invading it, but you don't want to take any chances, and certainly the lateral lines are not protected.  

You don't want any woody plants close to your lateral lines, as in trees and shrubs. They are the ones that send roots out far beyond their driplines, sneaking up on you. But you also should not leave that area completely bare, because you know it wouldn't stay bare, it would get weedy and unless it was mowed, some of those "weeds" would grow up to be woody plants.

After doing some research on landscaping over septic systems, the piece of information we were most interested in was that perennial short grasses should be planted above the lines. Apparently, the shorter the grass, the shallower the roots. Furthermore, the grasses will assist in evaporation from those lines, and should thrive with that unaccustomed dose of moisture. We could find no specific information on Clay County, Indiana nor any advisories concerning septic systems there. So, we're going to assume that the use of native grasses over the entire system is the safest, most economical way to maintain that system. We will check with the USDA Plant Profile on each plant to assure that it is native to your area in west central Indiana.

We're going to go to our Native Plant Database, go down to COMBINATION SEARCH, select on Indiana, and then "Grasses/Grasslike Plants" under Habit. From this list, we'll select some shorter grasses suitable for your purposes. These plants are all commercially available, and if you have difficulty locating sources for plugs, sod or seeds, go to our Native Plant Suppliers section, type in your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" box and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed suppliers and landscape and environmental consultants in your general area.  We would also suggest you contact the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Office for Clay County, which may have material available that will help you with your project.

Since you didn't specify if you have sun or shade, soil moisture, etc., you may want to go back to the Native Plant Database and put in your own requirements. Follow each link to the webpage on that grass for information on height, propagation, etc. Since this is part of your yard, we tried to choose grasses that would be attractive on their own, and do well in a nice meadow planting.

Grasses for septic system in Poland, Indiana

Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)

Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)

Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint)

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)

Elymus villosus (hairy wildrye)

Hordeum jubatum (foxtail barley)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Pictures from our Image Gallery:


Bouteloua curtipendula

Carex blanda

Calamagrostis canadensis

Chasmanthium latifolium

Elymus canadensis

Elymus villosus

Hordeum jubatum

Schizachyrium scoparium

 

 

 

 

More Septic Systems Questions

Native plants to replace St. Augustine over septic area
November 02, 2009 - Hi. We're new to Orlando, FL and need some help with plants that would be suitable to grow over our septic field. It's on the west side of the house, full sun. We live in a subdivision that r...
view the full question and answer

Native flowers for Door County, Wisconsin
September 02, 2009 - We recently were required to put in a new septic system on our vacation property in Door County, WI. This left us with a clearing on our wooded lot where the septic field is now located. The installer...
view the full question and answer

Should non-native invasive Wisteria be planted near well and septic system?
May 05, 2010 - I was told not to plant my Wisteria vine near my septic or well because the root will get into it and cause me many problems. Is this true?
view the full question and answer

Length of root systems for wildflowers over septic system
March 29, 2009 - Mr. Smarty Pants: I want to know the length of root systems for native Kansas wildflowers that will be planted on a Wisconsin mound septic system, which is a special septic system partially above grou...
view the full question and answer

Can Carolina wild petunia be planted over septic tank in Nokomis FL
July 10, 2011 - Could you tell me the root depth of the Ruellia caroliniensis/ Carolina wild petunia? Trying to determine if I can plant it over septic tank.
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.