Shallow rooted shade tree needed!

I have a freind that is looking to replant where the septic company just had to cut down a thirty five foot maple......The maple was going to interfere with the new septic system......they had no choice but to remove it.....she would like to plant something that will not interfere with the septic.....I think there is an answer to this dilema........I hope someone out there can help us explore her options.......Thank you for your interest.....

Are you talking about a septic system with a leach field?

Scott

leach field?

What we have here is.... failure to communicate.

LOL......isnt that the truth......sorry I dont know what a leach field is......

A leach field is the old-fashioned kind of septic system where the effluent is plumbed to a tank, which is allowed to overflow into a series of perforated pipes which disperses the "cleaned/cleaner" water into an area of land. These perforated pipes, as you might guess, are a favored site of water and nutrients for many tree roots. Some systems now are so good a purifying the water that they outlet the water straight into gullies, ditches, or whatever. In these situations, tree roots are not much of an issue.

scott

And if your friends do have a leach field, they still can grow trees there, including the maple they just destroyed (probably for no good reason). Maple roots are not much better or worse than those of most other species. Just treat and maintain the system properly, and never rely upon a septic contractor for arboricultural advice -- especially one who will charge you to remove your perfectly good tree. We have had septic systems in forested areas and among shade trees since before I was in high school, with no root problems.

This is like reinventing the wheel -- I wish I had saved some of the old threads on this subject. Can anyone do a search by subject and come up with them?

Guy S.

I actually argued the fact to her husband and her that the septic company was just trying to make their lives "easier".....I have a septic feild with an elm right next to it......I have never had a problem and in fact have only had to have my tanks pumped once in three years....however they are due now....we have two tanks, why I am not really sure.....but I am glad it doesnt require pumping often.....thank you all for your info.......I wish I had been able to convince them before the tree was murdered.....dont tell my friend I called her a tree murderer...I wish I had posted this a couple of months ago......So I ask, can she plant about anything?......thank you for all your time....

I guess you could tell them to plant another maple in exactly the same place. Then ask them how much they paid to have the tree removed, how much they think it will cost them to replace it, and how many years they think it will take for the replacement to achieve meaningful size -- and tell them that's the price of abject stupidity! (OK, OK, I'm just in a foul mood this morning from all the aches and pains of yesterday's nursery work!)

Since you're starting over, I wouldn't plant anything directly on top of the lines (or within a few feet of them) if for no other reason than any future repairs of the system will destroy the tree. And the maintenance procedures might work a little easier if you avoid very invasive-rooted trees like willows and poplars (and some of the soft maples too). It also depends upon the depth of the lines, and the type of soil involved.

Guy S.

This little guide from the Virginia Extension Service might be helpful.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/envirohort/426-617/426-617.html

Mary, thanks for finding that again -- I remember seeing it in one of the septic threads a couple of years ago. It's a good general guide, but I saw no mention of the simple copper sulfate treatment that need to be done annually. That's a critical step if you have trees near permeable leach lines.

Junkie, go to your local farm supply store or hardware store and ask them for the root treatment stuff for septic lines. It's cheap, harmless, easy to use, and has worked for us for decades. Then plant away, prudently.

Guy S.