In the case of this cultivar it grows in a narrow columnar fashion. Branches extend upward as they grow and never at any time except when pushing new growth will branches tend to weep. As they harden off they resume their upward growth habit. The area in question with the damage will never fill in. Several other selections you could try is Pinus cembra 'Chalet'. A selection that develops into a dense column with a rounded top; grows about 15 cm per year; foliage is a soft, bluish green; Of course I am sure the Deer will like it also. You would have to screen every winter. Another but growing completely in the weeping form is Picea glauca 'Pendula'. Would be a good fit for the confinds provided for it to grow in. Dave

Cal: Norway spruce are generally a medium-fast growing tree. But, of course, your climate and soil make a big difference. I have grown NS both in Northern Virginia, a dry and hot Z6, and in the mountains of Western Maryland, a wet, snowy Z5. In both places I have seen some very fast growth on individual trees certain years. Yes, up to 4' or a tad more, but your average will be much less. In Western MD, in my forest groves on a good "class II" forest soil, the average is 28 inches. At this rate a 4 foot tree will be about 115 feet tall in another 50 years, with a very steady growth rate for the whole period. In Northern VA, the growth rate will be substantially less, averaging about 20 inches in a forest stand. But if your trees are growing in the open, they will, on average, grow in height more slowly, but faster in diameter. In given years their growth may be affected by possible white pine weevils, which kill the top portion of the previous year's leader. And, birds landing on the new leaders, before they have hardened, will break them, which also slows height growth for that year. --Spruce

cal ... do not buy the picea pungens .... wait until spring ... to verify its spring color .... the blue.. is a waxy coating.. its is prime.. the best ... at spring flush .. this is when you buy an unnamed variety ... if you want to buy now.. you buy a named variety.. [of which we can provide names and mail order places] ... and do to such.. there will be predictability of color .. as a waxy coating.. it wears off to some extent.. over the summer.. high heat.. rain storms... sprinklers.. just to piss you off ..... etc ... so they all dull up to some extent.. as summer rolls by ... if you look in the interior.. you will see 2 and 3 years old needles.. nearing the green color all needles are.. under the wax.. this is all normal .. regardless.. BUY A NAMED VARIETY ... even if you have to buy smaller and mail order ... and it will make your toes tingle.. too many peeps buy unnamed seedlings... which are kinda blue.. and hope they will be like the ones that make your toes curl ... odds are.. it wont be .... go for quality .. over the instant gratification of size.. pic below of my Picea pungens Hoopsi.. at spring flush.. showing its annual growth.. starting from a one gallon ... one foot turd ... ken it was a blue turd.. lol...

I have a 10 ft high weeping norway spruce and support it to grow straight up. I plan to cut the leader off one year and let it cascade down via several side branches. That tree I once cut the leader off when 7 ft tall, but then decided to continue to let it grow taller. So I bent up a side branch at the top, tied it to a stick of bamboo, and it continued growing straight up, making that side branch its new leader. You could do it too, after cutting off the top hanging over.