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Grass is the most popular and safest option for planting over a septic drain field, but you can also plant small flowering plants and other lightweight plants that don’t have woody or deep roots. Avoid trees and bushes within 10 feet of the field, as the woody roots can crack the perforated pipes. You should also avoid planting vegetable or fruit gardens over your drain field, as a leak from the pipes could contaminate the soil and put anyone who eats the produce at risk.

The best time to plant is between spring and autumn. Springtime weather is typically mild and is when nurseries start to bloom. When the summer weather arrives and it’s hot out, it’s best to avoid planting bare-root plants, but you can still plant many in-container varieties. The first sign of fall is another great opportunity to plant biennials if you live in southern states, or a lovely vegetable garden up north.

Since the nature of the landscaping project can heavily influence the overall cost, it helps to understand what different types of landscaping projects cost on average. For example:

• Plant a tree: $100–$2,000

• Build a retaining wall: $3,250–$9,200

• Reseed a lawn: $450–$1,700

• Install a water fountain: $950–$4,800

• Install a paver patio: $2,400–$7,000

• Install a concrete walkway: $1,200–$2,400

• Install a flower bed: $800–$3,000

• Landscape lighting: $2,000–$6,000

While you can leave roots in the ground, if you don’t want the shrub to regrow again over time, it’s best not to leave any roots behind. Ensure you remove as much of the shrub as possible, including the root ball and any main roots you can see, to prevent new growth. Some gardeners opt for using a chemical treatment to prevent the stump from growing back, but this can kill beneficial microorganisms living in your soil.