I don't think this can or should be done. I'm assuming you're referring to the native Pinus strobus, which wants to be a huge tree. This would be a daunting and tortuous task. I'd opt for a dwarf conifer. There are others here who can steer you in the right direction.

This may be a ridiculous question, but has anyone periodically root pruned a tree after it has been planted in an attempt to keep it small? This would be akin to bonsai, but you'd have to dig it up, prune, and replant. Sounds like a bad idea to me, and this is more of a curiosity than anything. I suspect in the case of a white pine it would quickly get too large to continue this practice.

if the tag is correct ... and if your ID is correct ... it should be planted 20 to 30 feet from the porch ..

white pine in my MI can do 3 to 5 feet per year of growth.. once they get settled in ... see link

conifers are trees... they really dont ever stop growing.. in your lifetime ... you should be looking to mail order a mini.. or a very slow growing dwarf ... but dont get to wrapped up in the term dwarf ... they can get over 6 feet in a decade or two ...

study annual growth rates to understand how fast one grows ... if it grows a foot a year.. it will be 10 feet in 10 years ...

one of our favorite mail order places is conifer kingdom ... second link ... but also understand.. the heat of summer.. is not the best time to plant ... and in that regard.. it would be nice to know where you are ...

ken

https://www.google.com/search?q=pinus+strobus+forest&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEodnC74vNAhUIQVIKHTryBgQQ_AUIBygB&biw=945&bih=745&dpr=0.9

https://www.google.com/search?q=conifer+kingdom&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

I'm in zone 5- southern Ontario. It's warm but not too hot right now. This is the plant I am talking about

should I return it? If I plant it in my back yard how far should I be from the fence?

Thanks!

yes.. look at that leader growth ... at least one foot ....next year ... 2 to 3 feet ... min ...

its perfect time for bud pruning ... .. of which i know nothing ... see link below if i can find it ...

its still 20 feet to close to the house ... did you look at the pix at the link i gave you ????

ken

http://conifersociety.org/conifers/designing-with-conifers/

It *CAN* be done if you learn Bonsai...VERY labor intensive, and should probably be kept in a large pot for that.

Beautiful tree, but terrible spot for it. I usually think folks on this forum are a little hysterical about trees being too close to the house...but that is too close for me. They don't like shade (so it won't like that shaded corner) and tend to drop branches...not good for close to the house. Also, I think it may be planted too deep...I can't see the root flare.

Do you have a spot far from your house? How much land do you have?

BTW, I've found that conifers should have equal light hitting them from all sides, otherwise they go bare on the shaded side. Your WP seedling (in your pix) is way to close to the building.

Here's what it wants to be when it grows up. This one is about 35' from the NE corner of house, and I wouldn't want it any closer.

And here are a couple of "medium" sized ones in northern Wisconsin.

tj

I will definitely be removing it, if they return it then I will look at some more smaller varieties of plants. Thanks!!

I have seen pines strobus hedges where they were kept to about 8x8 feet for 30 plus years. The one down the road from me has a few trees in the hedge with 20-24 inch diameter trunks. If I drive by I will snap a pick. It is within 15 feet of the right side of the house as well.

I hope you can take a pic of that, coachjohn, because that is what I am thinking about doing with mine. Thank you.

That's a tight spot for most trees to be long term, but heck, just enjoy whatever you plant in that location and once it starts to outgrow it's space, just dig it out and plant something new.

Alternatively there are quite a few beautifully narrow conifers that could be in that location more long term. I would just make sure to plant them a few feet further away from the step than how you have it now. the more the longer they can stay. Most of the plants that would fit that location will either be fastigiate (branches growing straight up) or pendulous/weepers.

Since you really liked the white pine (Pinus strobus) you could replace it with a Pinus strobus 'Angel Falls'. Due to it's strict weeping habit It can stay narrow for some time if you stake it indefinitely. Once left un-staked it will spread and wonder becoming more bushy. A really nice fastigiate form would be Pinus strobus 'Stowe Pillar'.

Some other more common suggestions:

Picea glauca 'Pendula'

Juniperus communis 'Compressa'

Thuja occidentalis 'Degroot's Spire'

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Wissel's Saguaro' (not so common but cool)

Ooh, one more. It's not a conifer but has great fall color, Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'.

Not a good site for a eastern white pine. I would replant immediately to where it has more room. Even if you plan to prune extensively and go all bonsai on it, it needs MUCH more room. Ive got 4 that were that size 4 years ago. They are now much much bigger, probably 10' + tall and getting wide as well. As mentioned Pinus Strobus Stowes Pillar is a much better choice, but even it needs a bit more room(could possbily work in same generally space, just put out farther)