Septic tank and fruit trees

[haljam]

I have various fruit (plum and apple) trees on a slope at bottom of a garden. This is the first year that they have produced in any quantity, and plums in particular are great. Trouble is, - at the bottom of the slope is the soakaway from a septic tank. Anyone know if this a problem?, and what distance above and away from a soak away is safe for fruit? Trees are about 3 m tall on m26 stock.

On the same topic how deep do plum tree roots go in reasonable condition soil with no barriers? Any advice appreciated. thanks

[brassmonkey001]

I have various fruit (plum and apple) trees on a slope at bottom of a garden. This is the first year that they have produced in any quantity, and plums in particular are great. Trouble is, - at the bottom of the slope is the soakaway from a septic tank. Anyone know if this a problem?, and what distance above and away from a soak away is safe for fruit? Trees are about 3 m tall on m26 stock.

On the same topic how deep do plum tree roots go in reasonable condition soil with no barriers? Any advice appreciated. thanks

 

You don't really want any trees close to your soakaway. When we moved in there was a willow above ours and it destroyed the soakaway. Had to have the tree taken out, the roots dug up and a new soakaway put in.

[Gollum]

I have various fruit (plum and apple) trees on a slope at bottom of a garden. This is the first year that they have produced in any quantity, and plums in particular are great. Trouble is, - at the bottom of the slope is the soakaway from a septic tank. Anyone know if this a problem?, and what distance above and away from a soak away is safe for fruit? Trees are about 3 m tall on m26 stock.

On the same topic how deep do plum tree roots go in reasonable condition soil with no barriers? Any advice appreciated. thanks

 

M26 no problem 3 to 4 feet away from drainage.

What root stock is the plum on ?

[Gollum]

You don't really want any trees close to your soakaway. When we moved in there was a willow above ours and it destroyed the soakaway. Had to have the tree taken out, the roots dug up and a new soakaway put in.

 

That's willow for you,

[Big 'Ammer]

A good crop of fruit may indicate that the tank is full.

[easy-lift guy]

The root system on your trees will be 3 times the canopy diameter. If the root system is in your soak away , "drain field" here in the states it will not take long for root system to make it's way to the tank proper, Better take out the trees before this problem becomes out of control. Good Flushing.

easy-lift guy

[Taupotreeman]

Not sure if I'd be eating anything that grows on a tree near a septic tank. I might be wrong but I believe that ecoli etc can be a major problem with any rubbish resulting from a carnivorous diet.

[haljam]

Thanks for the advice - Just to confirm, the Soakaway (and trees) are nowhere near the Tank - a good 10m away and some 5m lower. I am not concerned about roots getting into the tank, Just the ecoli or similar potentila problem.

Plums are Czar on st Julien A. about 4 years old now.

[Fungus]

The root system on your trees will be 3 times the canopy diameter. If the root system is in your soak away

 

Because fruit trees, such as Prunus, Malus and Pyrus, are associating with endomycorrhizal microfungi, which have a less extensive mycelium complementing the tree's root system then ectomycorrhizal macrofungi have,

these trees will try to get to water and nutrients with their roots growing in the direction of easily reached and tapped nutrient rich sources, which may be much farther away from the tree then 3 x the canopy diameter.

A collegue once found and followed a root of a Platanus, which had its tip 30 metres away from the tree tapping water from a pond .

Edited September 6, 2011 by Fungus

[easy-lift guy]

The root system will generally follow the path of least resistance. The tree will not work any harder than it has to for it's food/water. Save yourself the heart ake and remove the trees while it is still easy and cheaper than a new septic tank/drainfield.

easy-lift guy.