welcome to the forums ...

nice place... but i cant figure out exactly where you want the trees ... wait .. second pic is neighbor you want to hide??? .. where is the property line?

properly pruning a plant should never hurt an otherwise healthy tree .. and you may shape them any way you want ..

see link as prep for planting.. soil issues.. watering.. etc ...

conifers are trees .. and as such.. basically never stop growing ... and in conifers.. most size estimates are at ten years ... and you can double that for 20 years ...

ken

i hate when i forget the link .. ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

Hi Ken! Thanks!! You guessed correctly - sorry about that. Our house is the tan a-frame type home and yes - we are wanting to hide the neighbors place (light green/grey) to the left. The property line is just on the other side of the 18 inch high free standing rock wall we have there and would prefer to see the wall to a degree as well so wanted to prune the columnar norway spruces up about 18 to 24 inches high from the ground for a trunk and let the height go up as much as it wants. We also have a neighbor on the other side of the green/grey home that has a 'parking lot light' that comes on at dusk and we hope eventually the spruces will help block out some of that light too. Beyond that home is another lot/home and then a roadway which gets some traffic - not too heavy - but motorcycles - Harleys - come through the mountains off and on. Might help buffer some of that noise too. Fingers crossed - ;-) We plan to retire here - I'm 54 so the conifers can grow up as they desire.

LOL! No worries Ken! Thank you again for your response and providing the link!

Oh - and for reference - the smallest widest point between the drive and the stone wall is 6 feet -- was not sure if that was too small but if we prune the lower portion feel that the branches will work fine within that space above the 18 to 24 inch trunk -- the branches might go a bit wider - maybe 10 feet wide maximum - but not much per the specs I've seen.

If you're asking about 'Cupressina' that produces a tree of some size over time. For instance one at the Seattle arboretum (USDA 8) was 60 ft. tall* in 2004-5. Its accession number indicates it was acquired in 1965. B. Fincham says in Shapely Conifers (Coenosium Press, 2017) that it grows as much as 1 ft. per year.

http://coenosium.com/sc_vol_iii.htm

*I haven't taped the spread of this example but even if the average crown spread was only 1/4 the height at that time it was 15 ft. And the spread of the tree being more in the neighborhood of 1/3 the height - or at least approaching 20 ft. - is probably more likely.

Yes - that is the one. Would you possibly have any thoughts as to something that might be more appropriate for the area noted - its about 40 to 60 feet long and between 6' to 8 to 9 feet wide at the smallest and widest points. Perhaps something more around 30 to 40 feet tall maximum - a fast or moderate grower - evergreen - and would work with being planted near an asphalt driveway. Really appreciate the input and thoughts.

What about Serbian Spruces or Christina Spruces?

Locally written publication on the subject with quick reference tables.

https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/SP517.pdf

Thank you so much Embothrium!

"Might help buffer some of that noise too."

Plants won't help with noise. The only thing that will reduce noise is something solid like a hill or a wall or solid fence. The conifers will help the view and light issues, however.

Thank you so much Pete and NHBabs!

'Cupressina' is one possible choice, but for your plan maybe 'Columnaris' would be better. I am growing both, and so far I think 'Columnaris' is narrower, especially at the lower part, and maybe prettier, depending on your taste. I saw an older 'Cupressina' at the Arnold Arboretum, and it seemed to show that 'Cupressina' continues to widen at the base over time. BUT, 'Columnaris' could be hard to find. Also, as with some of the other older cultivars, there could be more than one tree sold under this name. Some sites have 'Columnaris' as slower growing than 'Cupressina', but I have found the opposite.

--Spruce

Thank you Spruce!! I am finding that may be an issue and will be putting on my Nancy Drew hat to see what I can find