fruit trees on septic drainage line?

[Tish[_1_]]

Hello Gardeners,

Could the combined expertise of the group help me? Due to strong
winds, we lost two large trees growing along our septic seepage line.
The trees were native eucalypts and both fell because their trunks
were filled with a punky fungus (turned the wood to sponge). We think
that this is probably related to the constant moisture and nutrients
from the septic, so won't be planting natives there again. We reckon
that fruit trees would be better able to cope with the conditions,
given that a peach tree and a lemon tree are both thriving and have no
sign of rot.

There is room for two fruit trees.
We are near Campbelltown, NSW (southwestern Sydney); the aspect is
north-west and is fairly exposed.
We never get it together enough to properly control for fruit flies,
so we are planning on avoiding things like pome fruit (apples, pears,
quince, nectarines, peaches, apricots, etc). Likewise, planting
feijoas and quavas would be foolish. We have enough citrus for the
moment (lemon, two limes and two mandarins), so won't be planting any
more citrus (much to the disgust of the local swamp wallaby).

Any ideas? Particuarly, anything that is resistant to fruit fly and
which won't poison native wildlife/birds.

Thanks!
Tish

[brucef@eudoramail.com]

Tish wrote:
> We never get it together enough to properly control for fruit flies,
> so we are planning on avoiding things like pome fruit (apples, pears,
> quince, nectarines, peaches, apricots, etc). Likewise, planting
> feijoas and quavas would be foolish. We have enough citrus for the
> moment (lemon, two limes and two mandarins), so won't be planting any
> more citrus (much to the disgust of the local swamp wallaby).
>
> Any ideas? Particuarly, anything that is resistant to fruit fly and
> which won't poison native wildlife/birds.

You aren't exactly making it easy for us. No soft fruit, apples,
pears, quinces or citrus. Figs are fruit fly magnets, and besides
their roots can be invasive. You are considering avocados
obviously. Passionfruit would probably do well, although it isn't
actually a tree...

[Tish[_1_]]

On 16 Oct 2006 00:29:00 -0700, wrote:

>Tish wrote:
>> We never get it together enough to properly control for fruit flies,
>> so we are planning on avoiding things like pome fruit (apples, pears,
>> quince, nectarines, peaches, apricots, etc). Likewise, planting
>> feijoas and quavas would be foolish. We have enough citrus for the
>> moment (lemon, two limes and two mandarins), so won't be planting any
>> more citrus (much to the disgust of the local swamp wallaby).
>>
>> Any ideas? Particuarly, anything that is resistant to fruit fly and
>> which won't poison native wildlife/birds.
>
>You aren't exactly making it easy for us. No soft fruit, apples,
>pears, quinces or citrus. Figs are fruit fly magnets, and besides
>their roots can be invasive. You are considering avocados
>obviously. Passionfruit would probably do well, although it isn't
>actually a tree...

I know ... difficult thing to figure out.
So far I'm thinking of non-astringent persimmons and shah-toot
mulberries, but was hoping / wondering if someone out there in usenet
land might know of other options. I've read Glowinski from cover to
cover and found the fruit fly thing the most depressing aspect of the
whole search.

Tish

[Chookie]

In article >,
Tish > wrote:

> Could the combined expertise of the group help me? Due to strong
> winds, we lost two large trees growing along our septic seepage line.
> The trees were native eucalypts and both fell because their trunks
> were filled with a punky fungus (turned the wood to sponge). We think
> that this is probably related to the constant moisture and nutrients
> from the septic, so won't be planting natives there again.

I think you are being a bit OTT there. Plenty of natives might love those
conditions, even if those particular gum trees don't (and they might just have
been old rather than unhappy with the conditions). Paperbarks leap to mind,
and bottlebrushes, or rainforest species. Pop over to Mount Annan and have a
chat with the staff.

If you are really keen on fruit, why not blueberries? There are some species
that grow to a couple of metres, though it's a bush rather than a tree.
Perhaps there are other berries that would suit.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may
start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled."
Kerry Cue

[Terryc]

Tish wrote:
> Hello Gardeners,
>
> Could the combined expertise of the group help me? Due to strong
> winds, we lost two large trees growing along our septic seepage line.
> The trees were native eucalypts and both fell because their trunks
> were filled with a punky fungus (turned the wood to sponge).

what species?

as chookie saidm try something different.

Add leptospermum to the list, some like wet feet.
The mate of what was once brushbox might like it.
Tristiana laurel?????

[Farm1]

"LindaB" > wrote in message
> Having just taken out a Mulberry that was only near my lines, and
> quite successfully blocking them, I was wondering why you would be
> putting any trees (except citrus, which don't seem to cause problems
> with mine), anywhere near them????
>
> Next is going to be the Bay Treee, which has obviously got into them
> now, as it is putting on ten feet of growth a year.
>
> I am in a septic town, and plumbers make a wonderful living fishing
> roots out of lines.

I think she might mean the leach feild rather than the septic lines ie
on the outfall side of the tank, where the liquid from the septic tank
oozes into the surrounding soil, but even then I'd check with a
plumber first about what trees do to leach fields.

[gardenlen]

g'day tish,

do you mean the leach field?

and are yoiu meaning to plant below the leach field? not on the field
as such?

first up we have a link to leach field planting on my building a
garden page, might be worth a read for you.

i stear clear of the soft fruits up here in qld due to too much hassle
dealing with birds and fruit fly. i'm no expert on citrus but not sure
how they would go long term in very wet conditions? i've always found
they like it well drained, but if the field is on the western aspect
they may work then?

to me anything that takes up moisture would have to be a benefit,
melaleuca's and callistemons (for some habitat trees) would like that
look for the trees that grow on the creek banks and flats.

len

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:46:19 +1000, Tish >
wrote:

snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.gardenlen.com

[Tish[_1_]]

Oh, yes, sorry. I *do* mean leach field (thank you for giving me the
correct term). The outfall from the septic that drains into the soil.
I'll go to your web page and have a look there.

The trees that fell down were wonderful habitat trees - loads of
honeyeaters, parrots, various possums (mainly sugar gliders), not to
mention legions of fascinating insects. The problem was that they
grew very quickly and then fell down. Not good for local wildlife to
lose such a resource. I'm figuring that fruit trees will provide a
similar resource, but without the danger of falling down. We are a
small family and don't mind sharing 90% of the fruit with the local
birds and animals. I netted a fruit tree once and caught a lactating
bat (a female that was feeding a baby) - very upsetting for bat and
me, so won't worry about doing that again.

I'm rambling. I'll stop now.
Tish

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:23:11 GMT, gardenlen >
wrote:

>g'day tish,
>
>do you mean the leach field?
>
>and are yoiu meaning to plant below the leach field? not on the field
>as such?
>
>first up we have a link to leach field planting on my building a
>garden page, might be worth a read for you.
>
>i stear clear of the soft fruits up here in qld due to too much hassle
>dealing with birds and fruit fly. i'm no expert on citrus but not sure
>how they would go long term in very wet conditions? i've always found
>they like it well drained, but if the field is on the western aspect
>they may work then?
>
>to me anything that takes up moisture would have to be a benefit,
>melaleuca's and callistemons (for some habitat trees) would like that
>look for the trees that grow on the creek banks and flats.
>
>len
>
>On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:46:19 +1000, Tish >
>wrote:
>
>snipped
>With peace and brightest of blessings,
>
>len

[John Savage]

Tish > writes:
>Any ideas? Particuarly, anything that is resistant to fruit fly and
>which won't poison native wildlife/birds.

I have no firm suggestions, but have you investigated a nut tree or a
native fruit tree (lemon/lime or a lillypilly) or a pomegranate.
I can't remember whether quinces are prone to fruit fly or not.

The macadamia is a rainforest tree, so might be suited to wet feet, but
frosts could be a problem -- it's an evergreen. Almonds have that unusual
juicy fruit thing that is edible when freshly picked, as well as the nut,
but I have no idea as to their climatic requirements.

To sum up, sorry, I can't help you. :-(
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

[Tish[_1_]]

Thanks very much for your help, y'all. We'll be planting a mixture of
a couple of smaller fruit trees and "habitat" trees for the local
wildlife. We'll pick a couple of smaller non-local natives that can
cope with the relatively nutrient-rich, moist soil - possibly
something like Melaleuca squarrosa (one of my favourite bee-attracting
plants that doesn't get too big). As for fruit trees - current
favourites are the non-astringent persimmon, avocado (if I can
establish that it won't harm the local gang-gangs, yellow-tailed black
cockies and king parrots), or the mulberry (as long as it refrains
from invading the septic system!).

Thanks again,
Tish

[gardenlen]

g'day john,

yes there are many things to try, takes broad thinking to get the best
result.

the qld nut is a good food tree realy nad with a little care over a
couple of winters and they get to around the 2 meter height the frost
won't bother them at all then, suggest they should buy a grafted tree
with some establishment already happening.



On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:11:55 GMT, John Savage
> wrote:

snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.gardenlen.com

[Geoff & Heather]

Passion Fruit love septic outflow and don't seem to be affected by fruitfly.
Our vine growing off septic water is 15m long and produces enough fruit to
last us nine months of the year - the pulp freezes well.

Cheers,
Geoff


"Tish" > wrote in message
...
> Hello Gardeners,
>
> Could the combined expertise of the group help me? Due to strong
> winds, we lost two large trees growing along our septic seepage line.
> The trees were native eucalypts and both fell because their trunks
> were filled with a punky fungus (turned the wood to sponge). We think
> that this is probably related to the constant moisture and nutrients
> from the septic, so won't be planting natives there again. We reckon
> that fruit trees would be better able to cope with the conditions,
> given that a peach tree and a lemon tree are both thriving and have no
> sign of rot.
>
> There is room for two fruit trees.
> We are near Campbelltown, NSW (southwestern Sydney); the aspect is
> north-west and is fairly exposed.
> We never get it together enough to properly control for fruit flies,
> so we are planning on avoiding things like pome fruit (apples, pears,
> quince, nectarines, peaches, apricots, etc). Likewise, planting
> feijoas and quavas would be foolish. We have enough citrus for the
> moment (lemon, two limes and two mandarins), so won't be planting any
> more citrus (much to the disgust of the local swamp wallaby).
>
> Any ideas? Particuarly, anything that is resistant to fruit fly and
> which won't poison native wildlife/birds.
>
> Thanks!
> Tish

[Tish[_1_]]

Cool idea. Thanks!

Tish

On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:03:05 +1000, "Geoff & Heather"
> wrote:

>Passion Fruit love septic outflow and don't seem to be affected by fruitfly.
>Our vine growing off septic water is 15m long and produces enough fruit to
>last us nine months of the year - the pulp freezes well.
>
>Cheers,
>Geoff
>
>
>"Tish" > wrote in message
...
>> Hello Gardeners,
>>
>> Could the combined expertise of the group help me? Due to strong
>> winds, we lost two large trees growing along our septic seepage line.
>> The trees were native eucalypts and both fell because their trunks
>> were filled with a punky fungus (turned the wood to sponge). We think
>> that this is probably related to the constant moisture and nutrients
>> from the septic, so won't be planting natives there again. We reckon
>> that fruit trees would be better able to cope with the conditions,
>> given that a peach tree and a lemon tree are both thriving and have no
>> sign of rot.
>>
>> There is room for two fruit trees.
>> We are near Campbelltown, NSW (southwestern Sydney); the aspect is
>> north-west and is fairly exposed.
>> We never get it together enough to properly control for fruit flies,
>> so we are planning on avoiding things like pome fruit (apples, pears,
>> quince, nectarines, peaches, apricots, etc). Likewise, planting
>> feijoas and quavas would be foolish. We have enough citrus for the
>> moment (lemon, two limes and two mandarins), so won't be planting any
>> more citrus (much to the disgust of the local swamp wallaby).
>>
>> Any ideas? Particuarly, anything that is resistant to fruit fly and
>> which won't poison native wildlife/birds.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Tish
>