Let’s be honest, septic tanks are not the most flattering thing to look at your yard. A septic tank isn’t probably something you want to draw attention to or even want visible to your family, neighbors, and guests. Fortunately, there are some easy ways you can “disguise” your septic tank and prevent it from having any unsightly effect on your home’s landscape or curb appeal.
When you are talking installation with your contractor, ask them to place the tank far enough away from your home and hide the cover to the best of their abilities. If you already have a septic tank, here are some steps you can take hide the top of your septic tank cap so your guests and neighbors won’t be the wiser about what’s really buried underground.
First we need to discuss what your should NOT do to disguise your septic tank.
Planting Trees
Tree root intrusion is a very common and costly repair for pipes and septic systems. Many times, homeowners try to plant trees away from the septic tank but forget about the drain field. To avoid this altogether, it is recommended planting trees at least 25 feet away from the entire system.
Fencing
Like root intrusion, your system can be impaled by stakes. Avoid adding new fencing with out consulting your septic tank contractor.
Veggie Gardens
Although this one seems self-explanatory, we should also mention it. Your fruits and vegetables can encounter bacteria contamination by being near your septic tank. According to the University of California Small Farm Program, fruits and vegetables should be planted at least 10 feet from a septic system or leach field to avoid bacterial contamination.
Digging Dogs
If you have a dog who likes to dig, keep an eye out. I would be a costly mistake if your dog mistakes a pipe or tank as a bone.
Now, how to properly disguise your septic tank.
Risers & Covers
Risers are made to replace the typical concrete or fiberglass septic tank lids. The risers bring the tanks to ground level. When it’s time to do maintenance, a riser and cover make it easier to locate it.
At A-1 Septic Tank, we recommend that our customers go with risers and covers from Infiltrator’s excellent EZ Set series. These risers and covers are constructed using glass-reinforced polypropylene, which makes them extremely strong and durable. The covers are slip-resistant, so you won’t need to worry about them in your yard, and septic tank installers can secure them with stainless steel screws to prevent anyone from accessing them.
Lightweight Hardscaping
Using a light artificial rock is a great way to hide your septic tank lid. Not only does this make your yard look great, but it also can be used as a secret marker for finding your septic tank. Your septic tank pumping company thank you for this. Make sure that whatever you use is on the lighter side to prevent any damage.
Potted Plants
Potted plants are another effective and aesthetically pleasing way to cover your septic tank. Another benefit of using potted plants is that the pots prevent the roots from interfering with the pipework or even piercing the tank itself. And if you’re thinking about planting vegetables or fruit near the tank, use pots to avoid any contamination of the edibles they produce.
You don’t have to sacrifice your yard and curb appeal for your daily essentials. If you are looking to install or replace a system, contact our team! One of our project managers can help you through this process to ensure installations are done quickly and properly. We are dedicated to keeping your property looking great. That is why after the excavation, our technicians try to take extra precautions to preserve as much of your property's landscaping as possible. Call us today!