good enough ....

but i recommend a 4 footer ... it will get over it all faster.. and speed skyward... a few years faster than the larger instant gratification purchase ...

and it will probably cost 1/3 .... which would be my only variable ...

ken

ps: wait a minute.. how close is it to the fence???

pps: i would also increase the mulch bed around the spruce and the pine to 2 to 3 feet beyond the low hanging canopy ..... to keep lawn sprays off it .... or weed and feeds ... i am talking about directly hitting the foliage ...THAT IS ONE PRIME LAWN.. CONGRATS ...

Thanks Ken. I sure will increase the mulch on the norway spruce...should of done that this spring! Thanks for the comment on the lawn I haven't even watered it once this year.

The plan is to plant the eastern white pine lower on the hill possibly 4 feet downwards than where the maple is now. The maple is only about 9 feet away from the fence.

Will the pine be ok about 30 feet away from the neighbor's house? I suppose I have to worry about it eventually growing towards their house and past my property line into their property.

frankly .. very frankly... its potential.. as a forest tree .... is way to great for your miniscule backyard ... see link ....

in the decades to come.. it will grow over the fence.. probably staining the fence on the way ...

and its very prone to ice and wet snow damage.. at 30 feet tall or so ...

for the investment... you really should be asking for dwarf versions ... but those arent going to hide the side of that house.. which is probably your primary goal ...

part of your problem.. on hiding the house ... is that you are insisting on planting on the lot line ...

an heirloom oak ... planted half way between the chairs and the fence.. would be the future ... plant the pine at the same time.. and in 10 years... dump the pine.. and the oak will do what is needed ...

think outside your lot line box

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

good info. Ken. I definitely want to plant something that will keep it's leaves during the winters so leaning towards Evergreens.

I do have heavy clay soil so I assume this will slow down the growth of the Eastern Pine. It is a massive tree but I guess if I plant it closer towards the chairs it will be fine. I can prune it as it get's closer to the fence/neighbors house.

Would you recommend any other Evergreens? I prefer the contrast rather than adding another Norway Spruce. Thanks again.

You're up in Chicago so you may be able to find some larger specimens of:

Pinus koraiensis
Pinus bungeana

And there's always Rich's Foxwillow Pines located in Woodstock, IL. You could call them for availability.

Dax

Thanks Dax! Awesome suggestions. I'll check out Rich's Foxwillow Pines. If I can get a larger one that would be great since they are slow growers