Planning stages (with wild hogs and septic lines)

In late July, we moved onto a property where cotton was grown 30+ years ago (East Texas, USDA zone 8a/b, gets down to the 20s F). The house sits on a flat acre, with an adjacent 2 acres that have a downhill slope crying out for swales. Nothing much has been done with the property agriculturally (except a LOT of grass mowing) since the house was built. Someone planted Crepe Myrtles and a few other shade trees, and called it done! Of course, I am itching to plant! The first focus has been choosing sites for raised garden beds within the backyard fence (heavy, clay soil not too deep down). But outside the fence, I am hoping to develop a food forest, starting on the acre the house sits on.

Two complications:
- Septic leach lines running through part of the planting area. I figure it's OK to plant on either side of them, but it's important to dig and place trees carefully. Any thoughts on this with fruit trees?
- Wild hogs. They do come by occasionally, evidenced by turned up dirt and droppings left behind. I'm thinking fencing will be necessary, but am not sure what would be effective yet economical. Would T-posts and 3-foot welded wire fencing on a roll do it, or will I need to get hog panels?

I know the fence had better go in before the trees do, although I'm not really sure how completely interested the hogs will be until there is actual fruit.
Also, can anyone see any issues with the past cotton production? I'm guessing the chemical impact will have been seriously diminished over 30 years.

Oh...and if anyone has some suggestions for fruit trees, etc. that would thrive here (other than the obvious peaches, nectarines and plums + a few apple varieties), plus timing on planting, I would love to hear!

Many thanks for your input!

Regarding the hogs, I suspect an electric fence might be your most economical approach. To be clear, I have never dealt with wild hogs.

I am very concerned about the septic lines.  Keep the root systems of the trees you select in mind.  

No trees anywhere near the septic, it's just not worth it. Also no raised beds over septic lines the weight can be an issue. Electric fence will be the best solution, you can use the 3 foot fence but add a singe strand of electric low down you'll have to keep it weed free or it will short out but it will keep the pigs from grubbing under the fence.

Unfortunately the last year or two we have had a family of wild hogs move in.  They seem to know to stay out of sight.

They visit the feeder that we have so we can enjoy watching the deer.  They visit often enough that they have made a wallow though we never see them.

Like John said an electric fence would be good.  We use a two-strand fence with chicken wire at the bottom.

Trees and other plants can really wreck a septic system.  This thread might be of interest:

https://permies.com/t/62163/growing-pressure-dose-septic-system#689255

John, Skandi and Anne, thank you so much for your replies, and the warning about planting near the leach lines. I will heed that! There is still space where the lines do not go, but I can see that I will really need to locate the lines with care and work around them. The area where I plan to put raised beds (a south-facing fence) is definitely not on the lines, thankfully.

How is the food forest coming along?

I got property in East Texas around the same time you did, planting a food forest too ;) and the pigs are a real problem. We are trying to keep our free range birds out as well so we are in the process of putting up 6 foot welded wire, hoping the pigs don't challenge it once things get growing. If they do, then we will have to go electric too.

Some other trees that do well here are pomegranate, fig, pineapple guava, mulberry and pawpaw :)

We opted for ground-level wildflower beds over the septic line... need to bring in those bees!

We are west of Houston and recently had wild hogs encroaching on our property.  They made large wallows overnight and were getting near our garden.  Someone recommended a type of barbed wire that has 4-spike barbs every 2 - 3 inches.  You put it right on the ground - that's where the hogs like to dig.  Haven't done it yet.  Hogs might have moved on after hubby stayed out a few nights to 'discourage' them with his 'hole-puncher.'  

Also, we put up a double fence around the garden.  An old article in Mother Earth says deer don't have depth perception, so they won't jump a double fence.  You can find info about it on Living Tradition Homestead, youtube channel.