How to Plant on a Septic Mound

If you live in an area with unusually slow- or fast-draining soil, shallow soil over bedrock or a high water table, you may have a septic mound instead of a conventional septic system. Septic mounds consist of a system of pipes set into gravel-lined trenches. The drain fields are covered with soil and may be anywhere between 18 inches and 5 feet high. Large, rectangular septic mounds are unsightly and landscaping these sensitive areas is a priority for many homeowners.

Topsoil
Rake
Shallow-rooted, drought-resistant plant material

Instructions

- 1
  Plant newly built septic mounds as soon as possible to minimize erosion from rain and wind.
- 2
  Cover the completed septic mound with 6 to 16 inches of topsoil. To calculate soil needs, multiply length times width in feet. Multiply that number by the depth in inches and divide the total by 324 to obtain cubic yards.
- 3
  Spread the topsoil evenly over the leach field. Do not fertilize, till or install irrigation on the mound.
- 4
  Use lawn grasses such as fescue, bluegrass or perennial ryegrass to create a simple, erosion-resistant surface. Cover with straw and water to a depth of 1 inch until seedlings appear. Mow regularly to prevent invasive weed growth.
- 5
  Create a wildflower meadow. Use herbaceous wildflower seeds such as aster, coneflower, blazing star, wild geranium, daisies or bergamot.
- 6
  Plant low-maintenance daylilies for mid-summer color. Daylilies naturalize quickly and are a good choice to screen and stabilize the sloping sides of the mound.

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