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Brown grass over septic tank
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Posted by rosiehb 7 (My Page) on Fri, Jun 16, 06 at 22:27
| About this time of year every year, we start to get a big rectangular brown spot on top of the place where our septice tank is. It's roughly 4 feet wide and 12 feet long, and I assume its because we haven't had rain in about 10 days.
No matter how much we water it, the area stays brownish. The septic tank/house is only 4 years old.
What causes the grass to look dead here and is there anything to do to prevent it? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| Yes, we have this issue also. We have a brown patch over the area where our septic tank is also. I look forward to hearing what causes this and how we can 'green' this area up. Our house is also new by two years. Thanks. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| The issue here is the shallow soil system above the septic tank and the fact that the roots run out of water fairly quickly. So keeping the grass well watered is one idea and making sure the grass is not ever allowed to deteriorate. I have no indication of your locations (state?) and so now am assuming a cool season grass. The grass will go brwon in the shape of the area below it. I ahve seen this with boards, concrete patches, etc. Another idea worth broaching is to put something there other than grass that you can still get to the tank, but not have the unsightliness. Let me know the states. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| our tanks are 18 inches below soil surface, so the grass goes dormant there, like the rest of the backyard in the summer. if putting plants over your shallow tanks, just remember you will need to dig out 2 twenty four inch circles ther every 4-5 years for the tanks to get pumped out. (Just had it done $340 + $25 per foot dug down-we dug down to the access circles outselves to save a few $-put grass & soil on a tarp to make it easier)(if you don't get it pumped, the solids will enter the field which will be $$$$$$). |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| We are in West Tennessee. Thanks for your help. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| West TN also. We have Bermuda grass. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| We live in Massachusetts and have the same brown patch over septic tank issue and was wondering how a perennial garden of low root wild flowers would do?? Does anyone have any experience with this and names of seeds to purchase? |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| We have the same issue and live in South Mississippi. We will begin a regular watering program to attempt to rectify the problem. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| I have the same brown spots,but the ground is also sunken in over the tank. Can I add more dirt to level it out? We have very little rain and are on a regular watering program. The grass around the brown spot is very green and healthy so I don't think there is a lack of water. Could there be another problem? Thanks. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| LOL...guys your tanks are giving off methane gas... That is why no matter how much you water, it still turns brown in the exact shape of the holding areas underneath. Add rid-X or comparable...Good luck |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| The house and tank is 7 years old.No grass seed will grown on it, not any colour. It's a great bare patch the same size and shape as the tank, which of course is right where we can see it all day. I have even tried the seed which is supposed to grown on concrete and cement. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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| I can't thank you enough for this forum. I just noticed today the rectangle brown grass above our septic tank and needless to say I was abit freaked over it. We've been in the house for six years and this is the FIRST time this has happened; of course the temps have been high 90's for weeks so I'm sure that has added to the problem. Southern MS is taking a beating with this heat and humidity ! Thanks again .. I think I can actually go to sleep now. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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Hi
i've had problem with brown, dead, grass over septic.I had ppl come out, drain septic, " fix" my baffle, (replace 4 ft of pipe going from septic out to the T to my drain field) I put 7 inche ssoil directly ontp of my septic, re-sodded. Also had to re-sod parts of my grass above my drain feild that looked like miniture crop circles of dead grass systematiclly placed.
All on June 15-20 2009. Today July 02 2009, I look at my front yard and see the grass die'ing around my septic ( the mound directly over my septic has yet to die .. i think due to xtra soil i placed ) I call a septic tank company and they tell me its the " gas" not being flushed out enough; only 2 ppl here in my home and not enough water being used,going through.. through my septic and drain field pipes to flush the gas's out. We dont use enough water to flush out the gas's. Also told the drought we had causes the gases to not be flushed out.. hence not enough water to flush out gas's. So untill thre is enough water to compensate for the drought we had, my grass will stay dead or continue to die. So whos to say my drain field pips are'nt crushed that make it hard for water to properly flow through out the pipes .. to flush out the gas's? This is my front lawn, small; but I along with my neighbors have to look at it everyday and this is the first time it has done that since we lived here in 05. Why now? Do i really have to use much more water to flush out gas's through my septic & pipes? Do i need to put more rid-x in my system ? Should i get an industrial strength type of rid-x from a septic company to kick start my septic anorobic system? any info would be appricated. I'll try to post back to let you know whats going on. |
RE: Brown grass over drain field
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| We have long stripes of brown grass over the drain field. They aren't brown all year long. Just in the hotest part of summer. Would like to know what causes that. We look like we have a stripped lawn. |
RE: Brown grass over septic tank
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Here in the UK we vent our septic tanks to enable the methane and hydrogen sulfide gases to disperse somewhere that doesn't matter. The venting consists of 4" drainage pipe which is tapped into the septic tank, taken underground and vertically vented up a tree, house wall, shed, etc. In France, this is mandatory in order to prevent your problems with gases escaping from the tank.
In answer to the 'stripy lawn' question, the grass will go brown over the actual pipes in hot weather because the pipes are laid in and on stone, which does not hold moisture. The septic effluent only drains downwards and this moisture is below root level. If you water the lawn during hot weather, then moisture will be available in the root zone to stop the grass turning brown. If this is really annoying, you could pump the effluent to a higher level and irrigate the lawn with it within the root zone area. Your lawn would then be one of the best in the County as the effluent also contains lots of plant nutrients. |
Here is a link that might be useful: sewage treatment system information
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