What to plant near sump pump drainage - Ask Extension
We recently had drain tile and sump pump installed in our basement to remedy flooding. The pumped water now drains outside to a fenced corner in our ...
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What to plant near sump pump drainage #870538
Asked May 29, 2024, 6:22 AM EDT
We recently had drain tile and sump pump installed in our basement to remedy flooding. The pumped water now drains outside to a fenced corner in our backyard. The ground there is constantly saturated and creating a muddy mess that may erode over time. What shrubs or plants would help absorb the water and protect the ground from erosion over time?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
Septic systems and sump pumps have become more challenging as lots get smaller and as rain increases with climate change. I cannot comment on the landscaping of your lot or how it is connected to municipal storm drains. A professional landscaper will need to work with you on this.
There are some options.
It may be possible to create a rain garden that overflow spills to the storm drain. Metroblooms.org can offer assistance with that.
Here is advice on planting near a drainage field
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-06/documents/septicsmart-week-landscaping-final.pdf
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://conservancy.umn.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/bf81d09d-cd16-43d1-879e-e9ed92ddf489/content
https://www.thespruce.com/safe-plants-to-grow-over-septic-tanks-and-drainfields-2132661
However all of the advice on plantings rests on a prior analysis that the septic field can meet your needs. Plants cannot make the water go away.
Septic systems and sump pumps have become more challenging as lots get smaller and as rain increases with climate change. I cannot comment on the landscaping of your lot or how it is connected to municipal storm drains. A professional landscaper will need to work with you on this.
There are some options.
It may be possible to create a rain garden that overflow spills to the storm drain. Metroblooms.org can offer assistance with that.
Here is advice on planting near a drainage field
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-06/documents/septicsmart-week-landscaping-final.pdf
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://conservancy.umn.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/bf81d09d-cd16-43d1-879e-e9ed92ddf489/content
https://www.thespruce.com/safe-plants-to-grow-over-septic-tanks-and-drainfields-2132661
However all of the advice on plantings rests on a prior analysis that the septic field can meet your needs. Plants cannot make the water go away.
Thank you for your reply. Just a follow up that the drain tile and sump pumps do not have any connection to a septic system. It also does not connect to the city’s drainage systems since we choose above ground drainage instead. Below ground drainage connected to the city’s system would have added another $5,000 to the cost of the already $10,000 cost of drain tile and sump pump installation. So it is just regular storm water—not septic—that drains out into our yard. I wonder how this impacts what we could plant to soak up some of the water?
Thank you, that is very helpful.
I helped a neighbor solve this. The first thing he did was put a plastic lined and stone covered pool about 4 x4 where the pipe emptied to prevent the pipe creating a hold. On the down side of this he put a rain garden 15 x 15 which is essentially a shallow depression to collect water. The water is absorbed into the bottom of the rain garden so that the rest of the lawn can dry out.
This organization can help you. https://metroblooms.org/
https://metrobloomsdb.com/neighborhood-of-raingardens/
Very inexpensive and pretty.
I helped a neighbor solve this. The first thing he did was put a plastic lined and stone covered pool about 4 x4 where the pipe emptied to prevent the pipe creating a hold. On the down side of this he put a rain garden 15 x 15 which is essentially a shallow depression to collect water. The water is absorbed into the bottom of the rain garden so that the rest of the lawn can dry out.
This organization can help you. https://metroblooms.org/
https://metrobloomsdb.com/neighborhood-of-raingardens/
Very inexpensive and pretty.
