12 year old post, and still no good answers. Wow. OK, so reviving this for those who follow. I live in an area known for Blue Spruce trees (Colorado). Not offering expert advice here, but I will provide some observations from 50 years of living with these trees: 1) We plant Blue Spruce trees very close to houses in this area. By "very", I mean a few feet from the house. In 50 years of living here, I've never heard of anybody having foundation problems due to a spruce tree being too close (other trees, yes). Not saying it's not possible, but 10 feet away is not going to be a problem. 2) Healthy Blue Spruce trees don't come crashing down, nor do they shed big limbs. Even very heavy spring snow tends to damage other trees, while the spruce trees weather it just fine. Unhealthy / dying trees should be taken down. 3) In mountain communities, people build houses surrounded by spruce and pine trees -- again often just feet from their houses. And again, people are not chopping down these trees due to fear of foundation problems. Some smart folks do start felling them for fire mitigation, but that is a different subject. 4) We personally have 2 Blue Spruce trees right next to our house, both of which were planted many years before we moved in. They are at least 25 years old, towering above our house. No foundation or basement damage has occurred from these mature trees. Keeping the gutters clean is a pain, and we have to be sure limbs are kept off the roof to prevent damage to shingles. 5) Blue Spruce trees do get big -- so if you don't want a big tree in your yard they are not for you. 6) Grass under the tree will typically die out or be very thin, unless it is a kind that tolerates shade and soil conditions created by the trees. However, some ground covers (like vinca minor) will thrive and are a nice compliment.

And your interpretation of my remark is just as subjective. Concrete curbing is unnecessarily limiting in any landscape, as this situation clearly outlines. If one wants to open up to the potential plant choices available, then one surely does not want to be limited by awkward concrete curbing holding one back by artificially defining and unnecessarily restricting the available planting area. Often these concepts are not even considered until it has be pointed out, in much the same way homeowners are inclined to save all plants just because they are already there - the need to retain should be the only justification in maintaining and concrete curbing just doesn't have a justifiable place in the landscape. As to the 'budget' involved in removal of the curbing and/or enlarging the bed, the only cost involved is elbow grease! It is far better to take the time to layout the garden correctly to begin with and prepare the proper planting areas than prematurely spend money on plants that will rapidly outgrow the area or be too large to begin with. That's just money down the drain. That area in the photograph outlined currently with the curbing is simply too small to accommodate much of anything - certainly not a tree, not even most reasonably sized shrubs. Call me blunt or rude or whatever but I see no reason to not to call a spade a spade when it so obviously affects the outcome of the design. Pussyfooting around such glaring obstacles does not benefit anyone, the OP included.

Just for reference, we have three quarter acre lot with am 8 year old, three bedroom, three bathroom, etc. house. Our septic system consist of a 1000gal digestion tank, and a 1000 gal, water holding tank. There is a line of about 80' to the distribution box which supplies 3 - 130' leach lines. The three leach line cover an area of about 4500 sqft. The length of the distribution line, plus the area of the two tank must also be consider when planting. The system snakes over 200 feet across our back yard. Also there is an area that is designate a rebuild area equal to the area of the leach bed. If you plant in this area, any thing there will be taken out when the digging is done to install the new replacement leach lines. Our system is a what is called a pressurized system. In our previous houses, as I remember, the non pressurize system's leach lines covered only a slightly less area, There are many different configuration for septic systems. When they are installed the topography of the lot, the type of soil, technology, and City, Local, State, and Federal regulation must be considered. Some systems take up more space that others. To my knowledge there is no ONE modern system. Before starting to planting you need to know what kind of septic system you have. With my house (8 years old in NC) the system is described in the County Health Department inspections which is part of the building permit. In NC this was provided to us as part of the closing paperwork when we bought the house. The septic system is one of the inspection that has to be performed during the closing. As for planting trees, If you don't plant a tree in the middle of the leach field or on top of the tanks you should be OK. We have a wooded lot. When the septic system was put in the problem areas were clear during the installation of the system. Since we moved in I have respected those area when considering what I plant.

i dont know why you started a new post ... note that all the names here.. are the same as there ... here is a link to the prior post ... for those interested ... no big deal .... http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/4494870/manhattan-euonymus-espalier-advice?n=8 anyway .... your novice-ness is showing thru ... your fixating on variables that you have no ability to deal with ... a birch tree... should be planted out on about a half acre with nothing else around ... so what ... its irrelevant.. since your yard doesnt look like a half acre .. lol .. yes.. it has aggressive surface roots... so what ... just learn how to read soil moisture.. and lake sure you maintain proper water ... no one can tell you how.. since we will never be in your garden ... as to your espalier ... whatever.. plant it.. prune it.. and have fun with it ... you being a bit retentive on worrying about it ... just do .. thats how most of us learned.. win or lose .. btw.. you learn more with every plant you kill .. in fact.. many people say you arent a true green thumb.. until you have killed every plant.. 3 times ... just do it .. i would install a separate trellis simply because i would not want a wood fence to stay dampish with the plant on it ... new or old fence ... so a trellis avoids your fence replacement worry ... you know.. grapes.. which is a vine.. are grown on wires... wonder it you can do that here ... for this summer.. i might try some morning glory or something ... just by tying a string up high.. and train the swirling vine on it ... i see you replied while i was typing ... wood is wood.. none of it last forever ... but understand that this year temporary trellis .... can be redone next year .... in tree time... there really is no final decision made this season.. other than getting it in the ground ... planting guide below ken https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub