Landscaping your septic drainfield

One of our most asked questions here at the nursery is what is good to plant in a septic drain field. Join us for this in-depth discussion with Tobey Nelson and learn what will and won’t work in this tricky area! 

[@traceykellogg2600]

Do you have a recommendation for converting a grass covered drain field to these plantings, since you can't add soil? Normally I'd get rid of grass by putting down cardboard and let some top soil. Wish I'd known about your videos when I lived on Whidbey - loved the nursery!

[@ventureoutplantnursery8058]

Thanks for watching! You could still use cardboard to smother the grass but I would be conservative about how much organic material you put on top. I would also recommend a lighter, more porous mix than topsoil. Maybe a bioretention mix? I also would recommend doing parts of the system at a time. Some systems need to be able to “breathe” and covering them with cardboard could inhibit that. Perhaps a third of the drain line run at a time. Finally, my strongest recommendation would be to consult a local septic system professional to make sure your approach is a fit for your particular system design and site conditions! Good luck & happy gardening!

[@traceykellogg2600]

Thanks!