How Far to Plant Fruit Trees from Drain Field

Planting fruit trees in your backyard is a great way to enjoy fresh, home-grown fruit. However, if you have a septic system or a drain field, you need to be careful about where you plant your trees. Planting fruit trees too close to your drain field can cause problems, so it's important to know how far away you should plant them.

How Drain Fields Work

Before we talk about where to plant fruit trees, let's briefly discuss how drain fields work. Drain fields are an important part of a septic system. They are underground trenches filled with soil and gravel that treat the wastewater that flows from your home's septic system. The soil helps to filter out harmful pathogens and bacteria, while the gravel promotes drainage.

The Dangers of Planting Fruit Trees Too Close

Planting fruit trees too close to your drain field can cause several problems. The roots of fruit trees can penetrate the drain field and clog the soil and gravel, preventing proper drainage. This can cause the drain field to fail, which can lead to sewage backups in your home and expensive repairs.

In addition to the risk of clogging the drain field, fruit tree roots can also damage your septic tank and pipes. These types of repairs can be very expensive, so it's important to avoid planting fruit trees too close to your septic system.

The Recommended Distance

So, how far should you plant fruit trees from your drain field? The answer depends on the size of your drain field and the type of fruit tree you want to plant.

As a general rule, you should plant fruit trees at least 50 feet away from your drain field. This will give the trees plenty of space to grow without interfering with your septic system. However, if you have a smaller drain field, you may need to plant your trees further away.

In addition to the distance from your drain field, you should also consider the size of your fruit trees. Larger trees, such as apple or peach trees, should be planted further away from your septic system than smaller trees, such as cherry or plum trees.

Conclusion

Planting fruit trees in your backyard can be a great way to enjoy fresh fruit, but it's important to be mindful of your septic system. To avoid clogging your drain field and damaging your septic tank and pipes, it's recommended that you plant fruit trees at least 50 feet away from your drain field. By following this simple guideline, you can enjoy your fruit trees without worrying about costly repairs.