Solution for covering a new mound septic system

We had a mound septic system installed late last fall. Though reseeding and grading were supposed to be part of the package, it simply got too late to get it done. So...here we sit with a mud pit for a backyard. But I guess that's sort of beside the point.

We'd like to cover up as much of the unsightly pipes and covers for the mound system as possible. We were told we could plant anything that had A) a shallow root system, and B) would hide the utilities without making them difficult to access. I'm wondering if I could get some tips as to what I might plant there to help disguise the thing. I'm hoping I can get some plants put in before we seed the rest of the lawn.

Any suggestions as to what might work?

this is copied from an AOL/Google ad.

Mound septic systems are a popular option in areas with thin soils. Mounds provide an effective, ecologically sound way to handle effluent from septic tanks.

Many persons are interested in planting vegetable gardens, flowers and flower beds, trees or shrubs on top of their mounds, instead of just grass. At first this seems like a reasonable approach, but consideration of how septic mounds work shows otherwise.

A typical septic tank mound for a house might be 10 ft. wide (3 meters) and 30 to 60 ft. long (10 to 20 meters). This is roughly 25% of the area of the house served.

It is important to minimize the amount of rainfall (and other water) that enters a mound, so its full capacity can be used for disposal of septic tank effluent. Therefore, a mound needs to have a rounded top to shed rainwater. A healthy covering of grass helps to enhance runoff, compared to bare soil.

In order to maximize the amount of evapo-transpiration, a mound needs to be covered with dense healthy plants. Turf grass best fulfills this requirement. A vegetable garden would not, since there would be a lot of bare soil between the garden plants.

In very cold climates, freezing of a mound could be a concern. A layer of grass will serve as an insulator and provide freeze protection for the mound.

Trees and shrubs, if planted on top of the septic mound, will send down roots that can damage the structure (including the geotextile layer) of the mound.

From a wastewater disposal perspective, the best plantings for a septic tank mound is grass on the mound itself and trees or shrubs adjacent to the mound to absorb any excess effluent.

This is a U of MN site that tell you what to do. I am planting native flowing plants on ours. I used this site when doing it.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG6986.html

Thanks, Rosie and Zenpotter!

Reading the U of MN site makes me wonder why the company that built and installed the system was in no hurry to landscape it in the fall. You'd think they'd want to get started on erosion control immediately. One area where the tank covers are has settled a good 6 inches or more. Of course, they're still under contract to grade and seed it.