The tight needles are likely just the result of aggressive trimming to keep the bush shape. The tree is still young so it got one fresh shoot outside of the trim line, once it finally got good sun it is running with it. That whole new growth section could be a single spring’s worth if the tree has good nutrients.
![[OC] My neighbor's conifer tree looks like it started growing a different type.](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/c53df231-d76e-4a7c-a4b6-80c48f8aa8e2.jpeg){kind=link}
The tight needles are likely just the result of aggressive trimming to keep the bush shape. The tree is still young so it got one fresh shoot outside of the trim line, once it finally got good sun it is running with it. That whole new growth section could be a single spring’s worth if the tree has good nutrients.