Subject: Re: okay here goes my question
From: "Susan K. Wehe" <swehe@ix.netcom.com>
Organization: ICGNetcom
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 98 03:34:32
Message-ID: <MOD$980930.22472@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$980924.24932@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



> you can start breathing now.
> i posted this question in rec. gardens i think, or maybe here.
> i have to have a new septic field put in next year.
> i also want to get an oak tree. where i was told the field needs to go is
> where i wanted to put the oak. its about the only place big enough for a
> mature oak to spread.
> i have an old silver maple somewhere within the boundries of the old field.
> (not exactly sure where old field is - came with the house)
> had been told that trees will soak up the 'water' but could interfere with
> drain lines .can i put the oak in the area of the drain field, or need put it
> somewhere else? it will be a little crowed in later years, but not a tight
> squeeze.
> the area i want to plant it, the oak won;t be 'sitting on the field'. but the
> roots probably will reach it later in life. about 15' from field at planting.
> any help or advice?
> this won't be done till next year, but if a no answer, i have to re-plan my
> flower garden, thats where the oak will be moved to.
> kathy z/5
>
> and i wasn' being a smart a** about how short this was, i was just a little
> shocked was all.

Hi Kathy,
I would plant the tree as far from the leach field as possible. 15 feet isn't
much in oak terminology and it will interfer with the drain lines within just a
couple of years. The problem is of course that the lines once blocked can be
cleared by chemicals but they will possibly (probably) kill the tree.
I would rather see you rearrange the garden as opposed to losing an established
tree. BTW, one of our oaks had run roots a good sixty feet away where we had a
livestock tank. I guess it got the overflows and any water that was splashed out.
These are young trees and the roots were good sized. I feel pretty sure it's
invaded the leach field that sits about 25' away on the other side. Fortunately,
no apparent damage yet but I expect we'll have to clear the lines eventually.
We'll handle that if and or when it happens.
It's a shame that you can't run the lines where they had been before.

susan