Planting Near Well and Leach Field

Hello all, I've been a Permie lurker for a while but am about to start my big project and need advice and ideas.

I have 4.5 acres, 2.5 of which are forested (a very low and wet forest at that--a creek gets its start back there and there are lots of seasonal ponds). I have limited options on where to put fruit trees, and I've drawn up a plan to place them on the part of our land that gets a lot of sun and is not composed of hydric soil. I want to start them about 10-15 feet from our well cap, which, from what I've been researching, is okay--just so long as you're not planting trees with extensive root systems. The well is fairly new and drilled. Wondering if anyone else is planting around their well and what your ideas are about it.

Also, I have a big swath of yard in the front of our house that is begging to be used but is a leach field. I've been reading that it's okay to plant plants with shallow roots--I planned on doing a little experiment plot--sheet mulching and planting some liatris and black-eyed Susan for the pollinators. Any thoughts?

I wouldn't be worried about planting near the well except to leave access in case the well contractor needs to get her truck up to it to pull the well out.

For the leach field I wouldn't plant anything woody or shruby (or larger).  Be careful with the sheet mulching.  If you add too much "soil" I've heard it can affect the microbes in the leach field.  IE they need X inches of soil above them for the right conditions to prosper.  That might be hogwash but that's what I heard...

Mike Haasl wrote:I wouldn't be worried about planting near the well except to leave access in case the well contractor needs to get her truck up to it to pull the well out.

For the leach field I wouldn't plant anything woody or shruby (or larger).  Be careful with the sheet mulching.  If you add too much "soil" I've heard it can affect the microbes in the leach field.  IE they need X inches of soil above them for the right conditions to prosper.  That might be hogwash but that's what I heard...

Thank you, Mike--I hadn't considered leaving space around the well cap area for maintenance access but will definitely do so. And I hadn't considered the health of the microbes in the leach field--I'll have to do more research. Appreciate the info.