What type of shade tree should I plant in my yard that won't bother my septic or water line from the roots .
Answers:
Try a Redbud tree. They have a small root ball and wont plug up your septic tank. They are beautiful in the spring with tiny purple like flowers and have heart shaped leaves that shade well.
Other answers:
maple,stay away from trees like weeping willows
maple,stay away from trees like weeping willows
Go small if you are worried:
"serviceberry"
"dogwood"
"fringe-tree"
"Japanese Maple" not the dissectum type, but one with a larger leaf.
"sweet bay magnolia"
Again depends on climatic zone . . .
Sorry. Eventually all trees will have roots that grow towards water and the roots will grow into your lateral lines for the septic system.
Ask any septic tank installer..... your "leech field" a.k.a the area your lateral lines run throught needs to be left open to sun light. Not shaded. The ground does not absorb your septic water, it actually evaporates it into the air. Go ahead and plant trees in your leech field. In a few years your septic tank will start backing up on a regular basis and a couple of years after that you will have to cut down the tree and replaces all the lateral lines that the roots grew into.
mike
A nice shade tree that will not interfere with septic is a Zelkova 'Green Vase'. It is a beautiful Vase shaped tree, and is becoming the new Elm tree, very similar in shape and form. It can tolerate most situations and soil pH. Like to have at least 1/2 day of sun for best performance.
PLEASE! Stay away from WILLOWS.