I have the north fork pine for over a year. I must confess I let it get too dry. It is still green and the needles are soft and appear to be healthy. I know they don't like to be transplanted. It is 3 feet high and in the original plastic pot it came in. The soil has shrunk away from the sides around an inch. What should I do?

Knowing where this tree is would make a difference in the answer. If it were in my zone 10, I would say get it in the ground fast, but in colder zones, that is probably the wrong answer.

I agree, we need to know where you are, and if this will be planted in the ground, or treated as a houseplant. Here is info on having them in the house.
http://www.gardeningknowhow.co...

To bad you let it dry out. 😬
Yes !!! In ground. Repot. Or for time being get some fresh soil in it where soil has pulled away.
If its leaning. Stake it. If its falling over. It needs a bigger pot. Oww!!!
What am i saying ????!!!!###
Sounds like it needs a bigger pot and a stake !!! Whew!! Thats my opinion ! 😎😎😎
Pic and location of where you put it Wether inside or out. Be good too.
Toodle doo !!! 😎😎

Before you transplant to a heavier, maybe larger pot, set the pot (plant and all) in a container of water to rehydrate the existing potting mix and give some moisture to the plant. Only let the pot sit in water for maybe 10 minutes and then lift the pot out to drain completely. This will also help the plant survive any transplanting you may do.

If it is in a pot, I assume you are keeping it indoors. When soil of potted plants gets very dry, it tends to shrink away from the sides of the pot. That does NOT mean it needs a larger pot. Simply tamp the soil back around the sides to fill in the spaces and then water a bit more frequently so it doesn't get that dry again.

If the main stem is not vertical, then gently re-position the rootball in the existing pot so it is vertical and no longer leaning. A slight adjustment is probably all that is required.

If the plant and pot are tipping over and straightening it does not solve the problem, then put the nursery pot inside a larger heavier planter (ceramic or terra cotta) that will provide the ballast needed to keep it from falling over.