Planting distance from septic drain fields

StrictlyPalms

Howdy fellas,
In my area there are quite a few people with front yard septic systems. The question I have is this. How far away from the drain field should you keep a palm? I know their root ball is relatively small compared to the canopy but will they send out horizontal opportunistic roots if they sense a source of water?

My area is Orlando, so we do get daily rains in the summer keeping the ground relatively damp. We have been a little on the dry side for the last couple years, 6-12" low for the year, but not drought conditions.

Also, is there any sort of Root barrier system out there if they are prone to sniff out the drain field?

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Strictly Palms, Inc.
Orlando, Florida USA

Eric Frei

For the record I'd like to clear this matter up.

Palms have vast root systems, easily travelling well beyong their canopy and from experience I can say travelling easily 15' away from the tree.

The thinking that they have some small root balls most likely comes from people who dig them out and transplant them, you can be a lot more brutal with palms compared to trees when transplanting.

However their roots do travel.

I dont think there's any set distance however installation of a root barrier could be the solution. Palm roots are less likely to break pipes and things as they are fibrous roots ... they will access and grow through a small hole in a pipe but wont expand that hole like a thickening tree root. However once inside the pipe they'll thicken up and clog it.

Hope this helps.

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StrictlyPalms

Helps tons, what do you recommend for the root barrier? and how deep to go?

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Strictly Palms, Inc.
Orlando, Florida USA

Sean Freeman

We had a thread a while back about root barrriers?

Sean Freeman

Here we go some info in here
Soil subsidence and trees
http://www.treeworld.info/f2/root-barriers-815.html