Please be more specific. Mites will bronze the foliage and too much shade will cause large areas to die off.

I lost two dwarf alberta spruce to conifer mites. are there large patchy webs on them?

Unlike other spider mites, conifer mites prefer cool damp conditions, so squirting it with the hose constantly only makes matters worse.

Other than spraying with a miticide, I'm not sure there is much you can do to save them. I cloud pruned the dead one and planted "Heavenly Blue" morning glories on it. Folks keep pulling over and asking where I got the tree with the big blue flowers! :)

**Macca**

Sorry for the late reply, and thanks. I do not think it is any sort of infestation, but rather large areas that have become brown and dry looking. I will have to check with my In-Laws to see about sun direction, ect. These shrubs are part of a foundation planting area. From what I can recall, they get lots of sun.

Am horrified at recent and sudden "browning" of 2 dwarf alberta spruce trees after 3 years of TLC -- now over 4' tall. At first thought not enough water, but checked on line and found this sight to learn about spider mites. Can my trees be saved if sprayed with Ortho Volck Oil Spray??? Will pruning help? Lost cause???

I have a shrub with brown stripes. They just happen to mirror the string of twinkle lights my DH has strung around it. Could the heat of the lights be burning the plant? (The are not Christmas lights - they're red, white and blue)