How Far Can I Plant My Vegetable Garden From My Septic Lines?

Septic Lines

• Homes not connected to a municipal sewer system have septic systems to take care of sewage and waste water. Septic systems consist of either tanks or leach fields in the yard, with lines to and from the house. Those lines may take up prime planting real estate, but also carry waste and contaminants and require protection and isolation.

Dangers

• Gardening over septic lines endangers both the plants and the lines themselves. A garden requires deep soil cultivation for aeration and soil loosening, and the act of digging may break or damage the lines. Conversely, any line failure during the growing season contaminates the soil, and therefore the plants and their harvests.

Solution

• Plant the vegetable garden away from the septic lines to protect both lines and plants. Obtain blueprints of the septic system and plant the garden 10 to 12 feet from the last line. If you decide to expand the garden, move in the opposite direction, away from the lines.

Soil Preparation

• Choose a new spot for the garden where the plants get full sunshine and quick drainage. Don't use a location downhill from the sewer lines, as rain runoff may contain waste material. Dig into the top 10 inches of soil to break it up, and mix in 5 inches of organic compost for moisture and nutrition. Add balanced 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 granular fertilizer for extra nutrition.