Now that spring has arrived, you might be entertaining the idea of planting a vegetable garden. It’s important to find a suitable spot in your lawn with enough space and exposure to sunlight. However, you'll need to take some precautions if you have a septic system. Here's a closer look at how to keep your septic maintenance plans from disrupting your garden.

How Will Your Septic System Affect Your Vegetables?

Your septic line delivers home waste to the septic tank. There, wastewater is treated and then released in the leach field to filter and return to the water table. While shallow-rooting plants will help filter wastewater and prevent erosion, vegetable roots will absorb pathogens in the waste. This may include harmful bacteria and viruses. 

If an undetected septic leak occurs, untreated waste may also transfer pathogens to the vegetables and make you sick. Keep in mind that long-rooted vegetables can damage your septic system. Thirsty roots hunt for water and may clog the tank outlet.

What’s a Safe Distance to Plant?

Your garden should be at least 10 feet from your leach field. If you’re unsure where this area is, contact a septic maintenance professional to conduct a survey. 

They can also perform an inspection to determine if it’s time for septic pumping. Removing waste ensures it doesn’t clog and backflow into the home. Schedule a septic inspection once a year and a pumping every three to four years.

Don’t use raised beds, as they can compact the soil and affect how wastewater evaporates. As plants grow, train cucumber or tomato vines onto a trellis so that the vegetables don’t touch the ground. 

Wash the produce before you eat it to remove bacteria. Rain may contaminate leafy vegetables by splashing soil onto them.

While these precautions are important, this doesn't mean you can plant anything on the leach field. Ornamental grasses and flower bulbs are typically safe for this area.

If you need a septic maintenance company to determine the location of your leach field and perform a thorough evaluation of the system, contact Abrahamson Septic in Preston, CT. This family-owned and -operated company performs installations, general repairs, and camera inspections. Call (860) 889-7939 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website to learn more about their services.