Time to Answer Search Queries...and then more from the CBG

Two questions have come up in search queries for this blog. I thought I would pause and answer those questions just in case the people searching are still looking for answers (as so many of us are!)

Question #1: How far can I plant a willow (or insert any living plant) from my drainage (septic, drain) field?

I wrote an entry about disguising a drain field. Who knew there are so many questions out there about them! I also sit on the village board and we often talk about the sewer system (I'm on the committee...the "s--- committee"!) Some trees, particularly maples, box elders, willows, pines are always scoping out soil for more water. As a semi-pro horticulturalist, I get paid to garden; I know there are a fair amount of root within the drip line of the tree's crown. I also know we see maple root working themselves into clay drain tile in the village sewer system. We actually sent tiny video cameras into the sewer pipes to look! Bleech! I have also seen my huge white pine roots in the soil around the farthest corner of my tiny house-- a distance about 45 feet outside the crown's drip line.

If I were a property owner I would not plant a tree or shrub anywhere near a drain field. I have planted prairie plants, perennials, annuals, and bulbs over drain fields to good effect. All said, if you are absolutely driven to plant that shrub or tree, stay away from willows, pines, maples, box elders; and stay at least the distance of the mature crown's diameter outside the drain field.

Question #2: Is the peeling bark on my grapes normal?

Completely normal! First year bark is smooth and very supple. As the main stem achieves maturity it loses this suppleness (a little like this gardeners knees!) and becomes more tree-like. Remember, some grape vines in France and California are as much as 400 years old and the main trunks look more like trees than vines. The picture above shows a grape vine that is probably ten to twenty years old. I saw it at the Chicago Botanical Garden this last Saturday in the small fruits area.

Disguising a Drain Field

I was asked to design and plant a cutting garden which would attract hummingbirds, bees, and other birds. This garden also needed to disguise a drain field, not have roots which would encroach on the proper drainage of the field, and would not hinder pumping of the tank in the future.

This rules out any trees and shrubs. It needed to hide sewer caps and to screen the view to the road. This garden was planted in late August. These pictures are from September of its first full year.

For spring color, there are drifts of tulips, about 350 in all. Tulips are followed by columbines, daisies, colorful heuchera, phlox, hosta, coneflowers, both sedum 'Autumn Joy' and 'Matrona', a few daylilies, and grasses.





The garden is 30' by 40' features a crushed granite path and a seating area. I think it is a successful way to mask a drainage field, provide long season color to a yard, and attract bird and bees.