They're spruce. Probably not getting enough water for having been planted in June, just as summer was starting. When you dig up the first one - which is dead - dig around in the root mass to see what the moisture situation is.

Thanks. You won't happen to know what exact type of spruce it is do you?

Sorry not ringing any bells

I'd say it was one of the dwarf, globose forms of Picea abies. But there's a bunch.......Little Gem, Goblin, Dan's Dwarf, Echiniformis..........etc., etc.

Thats a cryptomeria japonica globula same happened with mine no idea what happened

That is NOT a cryptomeria and that is not winter bronzing! The conifer in question was correctly ID'd as a spruce 2 years ago and the browning is due to improper cultural care (most likely inadequate watering) after a summer planting.

Always a good idea to read the entire thread before jumping in with off the cuff and inaccurate comments.....and especially a thread that is so dated.