"Shrek" wrote in message
...
Hello,
I have a privacy border along my house lined with Eastern White Pines. The
pines
have done quite well in the 4 years I have been in this new construction
home.
The pines are now about has high as my house and I really don't want them
getting much taller, and I want to maintain the shape of the tress which
are
full from top to bottom. I was told by some, to top the trees to maintain
height
and keeps them full, top to bottom. From my research on the Internet,
topping
is a no-no. My idea is, next spring when the terminal leader growth
appears is
to cut this before the wood hardens. This should maintain the height of
the
trees. Also, I will stop getting the trees fertilized each year, perhaps
just
fertilizing them very other year. Comments please...



Plant something else beneath them that will be the mature height you want
and in a couple of years have the pines removed by a tree service.
Otherwise you'll be out there every single week with timmers in your hand
trying to bonsai a potentially 70' tree. A LOT of work. Pines are a poor
choice for a privacy screen unless you want a 50' privacy screen. Plant
some hollies or other evergreens and run a drip irrigation line to them and
fertilize them.