Hello everyone. I’m here to seek assistance for my leach field that is out in front of the deck of our home. We live on about 2 1/2 acres but most of it is wooded and partly a ravine so the only spot for our Leach field was about 10 feet out in front of our deck. It’s fine I don’t mind it but my eventual goal is this.


I would like to prep this area for a wildflower garden and put some beehives out in this area. I will not be planting anything with deep roots, no garden, etc. it’s about 100 feet long and about 55 feet out from our deck as far as general measurements of the whole area go. What I plan to do is utilize some large basketball size boulders that we have in and around the property to make a rough border around the Leach field, turn it into a wildflower area and then put two beehives out there next year sometime. My question is what do I need to do to prep this area for the flowers? This area is approximately 2 1/2 years old from having the septic system put in and so it’s relatively smooth with grass as well as some weeds that have taken over. You can’t see bare dirt anymore.


Thank you in advance for your assistance

 

Generally you want to keep the area of the field clear, no trees, no shrubs, nothing significant that is going to cause root systems to get down into the pipes.

That said, one question, how deep is the leach field? I've had homes where the field was a foot deep, and one that was almost 4' deep. I don't think a garden would be a concern but would keep the "hard" structures to a minimum!

 

“Generally you want to keep the area of the field clear, no trees, no shrubs, nothing significant that is going to cause root systems to get down into the pipes.

That said, one question, how deep is the leach field? I've had homes where the field was a foot deep, and one that was almost 4' deep. I don't think a garden would be a concern but would keep the "hard" structures to a minimum!”

I agree, no trees, shrubs, nothing with deep roots. Everything I read online says wildflowers are perfect for an otherwise barren spot with just grass. There will be nothing but wildflowers and if a bee hive needs to elsewhere, that will work. The pipes are 12-14” underground according to our septic guy.

 

You shouldn't need to do more than rake the soil before planting wildflowers seeds. I can't imagine beehive boxes being heavy enough to be a concern.

 

If there is anything growing there now (weeds, grass... whatever survived the excavating & covering) I would kill it a week or two before you till the ground. Glyphosate (RoundUp, Honcho, Glyfoss...) at the maximum labeled rate. This way your wildflowers wont have to start out competing with the weeds. Then I would plant dense. You want a solid covering of the desirable wildflowers to completely cover the ground and shade out weeds that try to start growing later.

 

Is this a mound system....or conventional buried leach field ?

 

It’s a conventional system.

it took me two years to get grass to grow so the thought of killing it all off is less than appealing.

 

If having trouble getting grass to grow take a soil sample to your local agricultural extension office for a soil test. Tell them the type of plants you want to grow and they state lab will come back with a recommendation.