| We had to take down an 80 ft spruce to put an addition on the house last year. Behind this addition is a new retaining wall about where the spruce was.
The spruce was great for the birds and great for not seeing the neighbors. The contractor admonished me not to plant any 'big trees' close to his wall. It is well done but I know what big tree roots can do. I am 59 years old. In my lifetime ...
I want to put some spruce and/or hemlock above but near the wall (the property line is only about 15 feet behind the wall but it is steep woodsy nothing anyone is going to build on I don't think.
Am I correct that a spruce has a big tap root? Do you think that means I could plant within about 15 feet of this wall (tree would be on slope above it) and not worry about big roots heaving the wall out of place for about 30 years?
Comments on hemlock? I know spruce grows well here. I have lots of deer. | 
