Thanks for sharing, excellent recommendations. Can you share pictures of your field and others if available. I am looking to plant a field in Pennsylvania Pocono’s. Cold winters.
Thank you thank you. I never expected to find this info online for Whidbey specific drainfields. Great video. I am going to have to make a trip down to your nursery (I am in South oak harbor)
I am about to plant out a septic drain field on the Oregon coast and you gave me so many great options. Very much appreciated! One question rhodendeons and azaleas are known for having shallow fibrous roots. Do you think they would acceptable options?
Thanks so much for your kind words and I’m glad you got some good ideas! Shrubs aren’t usually recommended for drainfields. For the most part, shrubs are more likely to have deeper, woodier roots than perennials and grasses. That said, Rhodies are fairly shallow rooted, and they can be surprisingly drought-tolerant if they are sited with shade from afternoon sun. This makes them a safer “cheat” than another shrub. However, proceed with caution, as shrubs are still not considered drainfield safe!
Thanks for watching! In our video library you'll find a video that talks about what to plant in dry shade, that might be a good place to start. In my experience trailing blackberry, much like its taller cousins, has a pretty strong/dense root system, but I'm not sure how deep.
Do you have a recommendation for converting a grass covered drain field to these plantings, since you can't add soil? Normally I'd get rid of grass by putting down cardboard and let some top soil. Wish I'd known about your videos when I lived on Whidbey - loved the nursery!
Thanks for watching! You could still use cardboard to smother the grass but I would be conservative about how much organic material you put on top. I would also recommend a lighter, more porous mix than topsoil. Maybe a bioretention mix? I also would recommend doing parts of the system at a time. Some systems need to be able to “breathe” and covering them with cardboard could inhibit that. Perhaps a third of the drain line run at a time. Finally, my strongest recommendation would be to consult a local septic system professional to make sure your approach is a fit for your particular system design and site conditions! Good luck & happy gardening!
Thanks for sharing, excellent recommendations. Can you share pictures of your field and others if available. I am looking to plant a field in Pennsylvania Pocono’s. Cold winters.
Thank you thank you. I never expected to find this info online for Whidbey specific drainfields. Great video. I am going to have to make a trip down to your nursery (I am in South oak harbor)
Thank you for watching! Come on down, the trip is well worth it.
I am about to plant out a septic drain field on the Oregon coast and you gave me so many great options. Very much appreciated! One question rhodendeons and azaleas are known for having shallow fibrous roots. Do you think they would acceptable options?
Thanks so much for your kind words and I’m glad you got some good ideas! Shrubs aren’t usually recommended for drainfields. For the most part, shrubs are more likely to have deeper, woodier roots than perennials and grasses. That said, Rhodies are fairly shallow rooted, and they can be surprisingly drought-tolerant if they are sited with shade from afternoon sun. This makes them a safer “cheat” than another shrub. However, proceed with caution, as shrubs are still not considered drainfield safe!
I’m not going it to risk it then. Thanks again 🙏
Thank you for your excellent videos. Any native suggestions for a shady dry field with poor rocky soil? Does trailing black berry have shallow roots?
Thanks for watching! In our video library you'll find a video that talks about what to plant in dry shade, that might be a good place to start. In my experience trailing blackberry, much like its taller cousins, has a pretty strong/dense root system, but I'm not sure how deep.
@@ventureoutplantnursery8058 Thank You!
Do you have a recommendation for converting a grass covered drain field to these plantings, since you can't add soil? Normally I'd get rid of grass by putting down cardboard and let some top soil. Wish I'd known about your videos when I lived on Whidbey - loved the nursery!
Thanks for watching! You could still use cardboard to smother the grass but I would be conservative about how much organic material you put on top. I would also recommend a lighter, more porous mix than topsoil. Maybe a bioretention mix? I also would recommend doing parts of the system at a time. Some systems need to be able to “breathe” and covering them with cardboard could inhibit that. Perhaps a third of the drain line run at a time. Finally, my strongest recommendation would be to consult a local septic system professional to make sure your approach is a fit for your particular system design and site conditions! Good luck & happy gardening!
Thanks!