Lavender & Rosemary. In or on clay (above septic tank)?

17 years ago

Thanks everyone SO MUCH for helping me figure out how to amend my clay for those rich-soil lovers. Now I need to figure out how to, if I can, grow rosemary and lavender in the same area. I've researched as much as I can. I need your "expert" advice/opinions to make sure I'm pointed in the right direction.

I know these are very specific questions and that I'm asking a LOT of you guys. Please know that ANY help you can give is GREATLY appreciated.

These are the varieties I have:

Goodwin Creek Lavender - Lavandula Dentata

Gray Lavender Cotton - Santolina Chamaecyparissus

Rosemary (that's all it says... from bonnie plants)

I want them to grow to full size if possible. The research I've done indicates they all need relatively "poor" and well-drained soil, and that they prefer to be dry between waterings.

I guess my first question should be, if the soil is adequately drained, can I water them at the same level and frequency as the surrounding plants (some fescue grass, irises, daylilies, delphiniums, marigolds)? If not, I may have to move everything and make this my "dry" area. (I really want these outside my bedroom window!)

If watering is okay, I'm guessing I need to plant them in containers, or in raised beds, above the clay, correct? The place I want to put them is directly on top of a septic tank with an aerobic system. The aerobic doesn't spray here, that's just where the "guts" of the system are located. These are my concerns about the raised beds option:

1) Would the raised bed have too much drainage and cause excess erosion* around the tank?

2) Would either plant's roots affect the tank or any PVC pipes surrounding it?

3) In the event we needed to get to the tank (for pumping) would it be extremely difficult to dig up the full sized plants?

If raised beds are okay, how tall should I make them? If I need to use containers, how large do they need to be (for each)?

Thanks again, y'all, for all your help. I promise I'm trying my best to figure out as much as I can on my own. Once I get this Septic Area taken care of, I shouldn't be so scared of what to plant where, or so needy for your assistance.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

- Mari

* Does anyone have any suggestions of what to plant around the edge of the tank to help prevent erosion? It gets lots of sun. Obviously, I needs something with root systems that won't cause problems.

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Comments (3)

vetivert8
17 years ago
About the last thing your want in your septic tank and drainfield area is excess water from irrigation or runoff. Closely followed by tree or shrub roots and any new excavation.

The recommendation is to grow only grass over a drainfield and septic system but I'd propose succulents such as groundcover Sedum and Echeveria where the climate is tough and summer rain is infrequent. The plus is - they don't need mowing!!! :D And you can make a rather nice tapestry effect with the various colours and textures. When the time comes to change the filters or to have the system cleaned out then they are much easier to move and replace than established shrubs.

Now, if you are craving lavender and rosemary under the window, you could go for reasonable-size containers at least 14" diameter and the same in depth, and resting on 'feet' to ensure drainage is adequate.

I think if I had the choice I'd go for a versailles planter which can be disassembled when it comes time to take out an old plant. Decanting plants from pottery display planters is guaranteed to build muscles and a scorching vocabulary.

Be knowing that daylilies/Hemerocallis have very sturdy and searching roots so you might want to think ahead when planting these sturdy drought-resisters, too. I'd class them in the 'sub-shrub' category. They're not something I want to be lifting every year.

In passing - beware of 'pot addiction'. It is so easy to 'just pop it in a pot'. It's only when you take a count and discover the sheer size of the work you've laid on for yourself you realise... If you think 'where in the ground am I going to plant this?' you'll save gallons of water and hours of time. :)
adayfromnow
Original Author
17 years ago
Well, NUTS! (not quite as scorching as the first to come to mind). I just don't know what to do in this "problem area". This is the same area where you were helping me with my "Disguise the Septic Tank" issue (and the bland, ugly end of my house that's the first part of it seen)!!!. AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

Now that I have that out of my system (lol)...

I guess the first thing I need to do is move the daylillies, huh? How far away from the tank do they need to be? What about the others listed (I also have snapdragons that I forgot to mention in this post)?

As for the fescue, it's not really my intention to have a "lawn" in this area. I'm using it to help choke out the broadleaf weeds, break up the clay & add organic material when it dies. It was a relatively inexpensive way to get results quickly. That was my thinking, anyway. I've been thinking about checking out some Xeriscape stuff so that I don't have to water much. But then, I don't know if the truly drought tolerant stuff will help prevent erosion, or worse, will they seek out the tanks?

Other than the grass, I can move everything else I have planted if I have to. The area is clay, but it's also one of the few places on our property that actually gets a good amount of sun. It IS convenient to water there, and when it does rain that area get's a lot of it, but I don't HAVE TO have moisture lovers there.

Ultimately, I really want something somewhat TALL in this area because it's just so... ICKY. The tanks & all their stuff are there & the house itself is just BLAH (the plain end of a single-wide mobile home. There, I said it! Yup, we're trailer trash - lol).

Of course, my MAIN concern is the roots getting into the tanks & the wires. It's SO DIFFICULT to find info on what a plants roots are going to do. That's the main reason I'm thinking pots/containers... for THIS area (of course, I'd prefer ones that are relatively managable IF we ever have to move them, but that's not a major concern). I'm not as concerned about plopping things in the ground in other areas... unless they are invasive.

So... ALL that being said, are you still recommending the Sedum? What are your thoughts on the lavender & rosemary -will they serve my purpose & do well here? What other suggestions do you have for a "disguise" (tall, wide, etc)?

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I'm off to research versailles planters.

- Mari
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Lavender has a shallow root system of 8 to 10 inches. Its drought and heat tollerant. It needs very ittle water. It would be ok over te drain field.

Lavender & Rosemary. In or on clay (above septic tank)?

Comments (3)

vetivert8

adayfromnow
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Lavender & Rosemary. In or on clay (above septic tank)?

Comments (3)

vetivert8

adayfromnowOriginal Author

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adayfromnow
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