Need to replace the driveway...

[cameraman]

The currrent driveway is two stripes of concrete with flagstone fill. All fine and good except for the 60' Blue Spruce four feet from the driveway. The tree has well and trulty blown the driveway up. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what kind of driveway could be put in that won't either kill the tree or be blown apart by the tree. One other consideration is that it snows here, a lot. I'm just staring at it going ummmmm.

[nrc]

That's a tough one. Anything that you do is going to require a base. Normally that means digging and that means tearing out a lot of roots.

The alternative might be to build up your driveway by creating an edge with landscape stones or railroad ties held in place by spikes or rebar. Then create a level base, etc. Of course getting that level with a garage would be a challenge.

In either case pavers will probably be the most tolerant of a shifting root system - assuming gravel that isn't an option.

Good luck!

[Insomniac]

Could you put down underground heating to melt snow under gravel? I've really only seen it done with poured concrete.

[oddlycalm]

Permeable pavers would preserve the tree. You still need to put in a gravel sand base, but they pass water and they move independently without damage to the surrounding pavers.

oc

[chop456]

Needless to say, all this working around the tree to preserve it will earn you the good fortune of having it fall on your house in a couple of years.