Landscaping With Risers

Plant ornamental grasses around the septic tank riser. Since most risers do not extend more than 24 inches from the ground, ornamental grasses are an easy option for disguising this unattractive addition to your lawn. Choose taller varieties, such as feather reed grass, blue fescue and perennial fountain grass, to plant around the riser. Use smaller varieties, such as blue lymegrass, in front of taller ornamental grasses to create a grass garden. It is essential to minimize traffic around a septic tank riser because too much traffic around the area can cause soil compaction, which can affect how the soil disperses tank wastewater. Plant turfgrasses in lieu of or in addition to ornamental grasses, as turfgrass features a fiberous root system that hold soil well.

Disguise the riser by planting shrubs around it. Use drought-resistant varieties whose roots will not interfere with the riser, such as black huckleberry, climbing rose, deerberry, downy arrowwood, bearberry, golden Saint John's wort and sweet fern. Do not plant shrubs where roots can become tangled with drain pipes and field trenches in your septic tank soil absorption field. Plant shrubs 10 feet outside of the soil absorption field for best results.

Plant tall perennial flowers around the riser, such as oriental poppies, prairie sunflower, hollyhocks or lenten roses. Use perennials to create a colorful flower garden around your riser. Perennials are ideal for disguising risers as you will not have to worry about re-planting new flowers each year to cover the tank. Use native wildflowers as another cover option, as these flowers do well in dry conditions. Plant native varieties such as wild garlic, white prairie clover, western sunflower, wild geranium, wild bergamot, smooth blue aster and rough blazing star.

Hide septic system risers or pipes with bird feeders or flat face rocks, such as those that feature images of star "faces." Use bird feeders or rocks that can be easily removed for maintenance purposes.