In article , Jane Ransom writes:
| In article , John Towill
| writes
| I've asked this question on uk.diy as well, as I'm not certain of the best
| venue. My septic tank soakaway runs diagonally across my garden, will it
| adversely affect its function if I plant trees/shrubs near or over?
| I suspect that the roots, seeking out water, will penetrate it, but bearing
| in mind that they will utilise a lot of the water would it do any harm?
|
| The only problem I see with planting anything 'big' over your soakaway
| is that the roots will 'seek' the moisture and damage it (
| A birch tree had practically blocked one of our septic tank pipes with
| masses of fibrous roots (

Yes. Planting a willow well downstream will make it grow very
well, and it may help to dry up the soakaway. Plant it where
it will block things, and it will do just that.

Birch and willow are the two worst that I know of. Few other
trees 'seek' as energetically.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679