dwarf Alberta spruce ... properly know as Picea glauca `Conica´

interior browning is normal and cyclical ... put on a leather glove and long sleeves.. and go clean it out ...

spider mites are a big problem with them .. those can be sprayed out with water ...

there should be new growth.. twice a season ...

is that a south facing wall??

the blue one behind is sublime ... both are conifers ...

ken

Thanks Ken. Wall faces north, so plant is mostly shaded. The weeping blue atlas cedar seems to be in fine shape.

Given the very symmetrical pattern of the brown areas, this plant looks as if it had been originally pruned in a spiral shape as topiary - commonly done with Alberta spruce. If so, you have something quite different from the interior browning of this species. The side facing the wall seems to have retained the spiral pattern while the side receiving more sun has filled in and lost the original spiral shape. You can re-prune removing the dead brown growth and the green growth on the sunny side to restore the topiary look or leave it as it is. Because it's planted so close to the house and receives too little sun, it's unlikely that the areas now brown will fill in and become green.