no tree should be planted near a septic field.

Geez you should see what some of my neighbors have done! Next door a bunhc of blue spruce scattered across his yard..sure not right on the tiles but adjacent.. i figured it is not a good idea.. cheers

When I lived in the woods, I would flush a named brand root killer down the toilet every couple of years. I believe it contained some copper compound and was supposed to keep the roots from entering, Never had a problem in 40 years living there with the same system.

Septic systems and trees: You might be a tree nerd if you find this interesting. I most certainly do!

We've got what is called a "mound system," which is surrounded by trees. You are not supposed to plant trees directly on top of it, but herbaceous plants are okay.

It's completly site and system dependent. Here the soils are so well drained you don't have to worry about it. Some systems have massive sugar maples, oaks and hickories within feet or the leech field.

if you have no issues with drainage I'd plant conifers all day near the field. I plan to put some near my mound since it is well drained and conifers generally are shallow rooted.

how do I figure out what kind of "system" I have? I obtained the drawings/site plan for the original. I got it at the local town hall... I can see what it looks like on the plan but what does that tell me about what i can and can't plant near it? It appears to be a series of 7 drainage pipes leading out from the tank... I believe the pipes are buried 2.5' below the surface

As far as drainage, right on top of the field it's quite dry, in fact, my lawn tends to die back there during warm, dry spells... cannot see the "green lines" some see in the fields from excess H20

I will take a pic of what I was given by the town

I'd guess it's a drain field system, but don't put too much trust in that. Administrative control of private septic systems where I live would be the county, but I have no idea how that would translate to provincial Canada. I'd start with the town hall where you got the permit to sort this all out.

I would call the local companies in your area that install systems like yours, See what they recommend!

interesting post about roots in septic field

Play the odds, avoid it.

What if you are taking a 20% chance that you will cost yourself $10,000 in septic repairs in 15 years and lose a half dozen trees?

How close are you talking by the way? Are you talking a full growing fir within feet of a distribution pipe?

If the distribution pipes are 30" below ground and you're 15' feet away the risk is quite low.

Some counties have maps of soil drainage and the water table by the way.

more than 15' away if I site it further from the last pipe.. I have to figure out the distances based on the site plan of the septic field. I haven't gotten out there with a tape measure to get a more precise idea. Will do so tomorrow...

and as far as the water table, this spring/summer it's been very wet but where the pipes are placed, it's a bit elevated then drops at the back of the property.. the fir would be planted on the drier part of the property. Drainage seems ok...