Question

Andromeda   Thanks for the help in advance.  I have  six foot talk retaining wall along the street in front of my house along the walkway to the front door (walkway to front door is the top f retaining wall).  On the top of the retaining wall facing the street there is  a 50' long row of square evergreen bushes 3' tall. That are framed out on both ends by two large old 8' tall andromeda trees/bushes.  I want to take the andrometers out because they attract alot of bees to my front door and have an unpleaseant smell.  Also within the retaining wall about 10' away from the tree is my septic tank and leech pipes.
1. I need suggestions of trees or bushes that roots won't break the wall or pipes.
2. Tree should never be able get above 10'.  Bigger would be fine as long as roots are very small.
3. Something that keeps its leaves in winter would be nice but not necessary.
Thanks a lot, Tom

Answer
Hello:

Here is a list of shrubs that should meet your requirements:

Juniper. Juniperus chinensis 'spartan'. Fast growing,columnar shaped,tolerates partial shade. Grows to about 8 feet high with about a 6 feet spread. Evergreen.

Forsythia. Blooms in spring,produces bright yellow flowers. Grows 3 to 8 feet high. Produces a medicinal grade fruit that is harmless to animals. Deciduous (loses leaves in fall).

Spirea. Vanhouttei. Grow 6 to 8 feet high and spreads 6 to 8 feet wide. Tolerates partial shade,drought and poor soil. Deciduous.

Lilac. Grows to 8 feet high. Evergreen.

Holly. Varieties available that grow to 10 feet high. Evergreen. Very shade tolerant.



Here is a list of trees that should meet your requirements:

Sargentii. 'tina'. Smallest of the flowering crab apples. Grows to 8 feet high and has a 15 feet spread. Edible fruit. Deciduous.


Dogwood. Varieties that reach a height of 10 feet are available. Deciduous. Attractive spring blossoms.



On a southern exposure,if you would like sun in the winter and privacy is not important,go with predominantly deciduous plantings. Or you could mix deciduous and evergreen plantings.

Although spirea is deciduous,its branches still remain fairly dense in fall and winter. You might consider using low growing shrubs such as juniper under any trees you might plant to fill in gaps that might be created by the branch height of these trees. Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.

Mark Harshman


For more comprehensive help check out my website at:

http://www.prestoexperts.com/expert/markland