The wellhead is a portion of pipe from your water well that is above the ground. While it’s an essential component of your home’s water system, landscaping around the wellhead can be challenging. Taking the right steps will prevent issues and ensure your water supply remains clean and fresh. 

How to Landscape Around the Wellhead

1. Exercise Caution With Lawn Care

Mowers and other lawn care equipment can cause damage if they come into contact with the wellhead. This is especially true when it comes to a heavy-duty riding motor. The force exerted by a riding mower may crack the casing and dislodge the cap, which results in dirt and debris going into the well. Always keep the location of the wellhead in mind when using any equipment in your yard, and make sure landscaping staff does as well. 

2. Keep Plants & Flowers At a Distance

Plant roots seek out moisture as they grow, which can cause them to infiltrate well components and cause fractures. When damage is severe, you will be faced with expensive repairs and replacements.

Plants with large root systems (such as trees) should be kept at least 20 feet away. Some trees, including elms and poplars, are known for their rapid growth, which means thirsty roots will be more problematic. In this case, fast-growing trees should be at least 50 feet away. Smaller plants, including shrubs with shallow root systems, should be planted four feet away from the wellhead. 

3. Ensure Good Drainage

While you can’t place flowers and trees around your well, there is one landscaping alteration you can perform that will actually benefit your well. Building up a mound of soil around the wellhead—while also ensuring it remains at least one foot above ground level—helps with drainage. When the ground around the well is flat or concave, water collecting around the well during rainstorms or flooding is more likely to flow back and cause contamination. 

Should you experience a problem with your water well, skilled repair services are necessary. The team of well technicians at Evergreen Well Drilling are all licensed, insured, and bonded, so you can rest assured knowing they provide quality work. Their services are also backed by a warranty, which means they won’t quit until you’re completely satisfied with the outcome. Homeowners in Shelton, WA, can call (360) 830-9005 for more information and visit the website to learn more.