Although the question arises often, there are few hard and fast answers as to what can be planted, because every drain field is unique. You can decide what will work best in each situation, however, by following a few simple guidelines. There are many reasons to plant on your leach field. Plants can help your septic drain system to function at its best by removing moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Plant cover is also important to reduce soil erosion.
At a minimum, the leach field should be planted with a dense cover of grass to provide these important benefits. In addition, many homeowners have limited space and want to make the best landscape use possible of their septic leach field. Often the only place for a flower garden on a wooded lot is in the sunny spot where the drain field runs. Or the field may be located in the front yard where the home owner would like to plant trees, shrubs, or flowers to set off the house and lawn. As the effluent seeps into the ground, it is purified by the soil.