Howdy folks! Here’s how to landscape around cesspools. Having a cesspool in your property makes it a vital element when landscaping. Remember that your cesspool treats and purifies your wastewater every day. It’s okay to beautify your lawn but you have to make sure that you don’t place your cesspool at risk of malfunction or failure. Ideally, you should consult a landscape architect so that you can be sure of what to do and what to put in your property. Below are some pointers to consider in how to landscape around cesspools:
Plan to protect the cesspool.
- Landscaping should never interfere with the normal processes in your cesspool. You should take time to look at your lawn and plan strategically any possible decorations, alterations and excavations and their juxtaposition to your cesspit for the future. If you have any plans to construct structures on or around your cesspool, think twice. These structures will damage the soil, cesspool tank, and pipelines. Take note that the cesspool and the soil absorption area should always be clear of sheds, swings, driveways, decks, parking spots, swimming pools, sand boxes and patios. It is important for you to be able to access your cesspool easily so that maintenance can be performed regularly. In the unusual scenario that you are digging a new cesspool, you should make sure that you plan in advance before designing and installing.
- Mark the access points. It’s a given that regular cesspool maintenance is important. You should always make sure that you plan the cesspool access points so they could readily be found for pump outs and other cesspool care activities. The latest cesspools have ports installed above the ground to provide easy access. These ports are usually disguised by landowners with a planter box, which can be moved away easily for cesspool services. In older cesspool models, the ports are usually placed 6-12 feet underground. These can be very difficult to locate when pump outs need to be performed. Usually, sundials, feeders, bird baths, sculptures, and potted plants serve as marks for the access ports that will make it easier for maintenance.
- Keep an eye on soil and water conditions.
- Do not place your cesspool under a direct downspout or in the way of water runoff. These will make excess water flow into your cesspit. These, plus decorative ponds, sprinklers, and other watering systems often lead to cesspool failure. You should make sure that irrigation systems are placed at least 10 feet from the cesspool.
- Do not let vehicles to run over your cesspool. This results in soil compaction. Compacted soil reduces the number of soil bacteria that treat wastewater, as well as the effectiveness of the cesspool and the amounts of oxygen. Always make sure that the soil is always dry and use track boards to distribute weight evenly when you plan to cross your cesspool with a vehicle.
- Make sure that large animals do not graze over the cesspool area because they also cause soil compaction.
- Do not use mulch, bark, or landscape fabric over the cesspool. This decreases air exchange and blocks the passage of moisture.
- Select your plants well. Make sure that the plants you choose are low water and low maintenance. See to it that they have shallow roots. Herbaceous plants and grass can help make your cesspool work more efficiently because they remove excess water from the cesspool. They also provide good cover for your cesspool all throughout the year. You can consider Lady fern or bunchberry for your lawn.
Always make sure that you observe the right protocols in landscaping around your cesspool. Your lawn may be beautiful but it will be useless if your cesspool system fails.
