Beginner Gardening: browning on Blue Chip Junipers, 1 by raiseabed

raiseabed wrote:
Thank you for all the thoughtful advice. I try to get advice from the local "Master Gardeners" operated by the county and University--mostly volunteers. Half the time they lose my samples or tell me what I already know, or if I'm lucky, the manager walks by their desk or comes into the office, and they hand it to her and she makes a diagnosis and suggestions. I'm quite sure I've already tried them with this problem. But maybe I should try again.

So I decided to just try a lot of things I've read about (I have seen red spider mites, there are webs within the plants), so Ive used Spinosad, and "Bayer Advanced Insect Disease & Mite Control" (Iminacloprid), weeks to months apart, because they list mites and web worms on Junipers, and other bugs and diseases. And I use fungicides because I've read Junipers are susceptible to fungus and treating frequently is necessary, because they can't be killed, they can only be prevented. I've also heard over and over that most of them die from over watering, so I haven't thought that's the problem for me. But it has been an especially warm summer, so maybe dryness could be becoming a problem.

So I will try the pencil test. I discovered when I went out to take the pictures that I have 1 gallon emitters (not half gallon) some places, so now I need to check all of them (about 20). It's hard in these prickly plants and somewhat prickly wood chip mulch, but unavoidable it seems now. The soil is loamy medium porous. I use a drip system so I wouldn't think I need an underground water container?
Didn't think they need feeding either, but maybe I should look into that. The zone is 6A-7BThe spinosad bottle states "use of a nonionic spray adjuvant at 0.1% v/v helps". Do any of you know what that is?

(I think the brown tips I formerly wrote about are just where they had gotten buried. The pictures show the brown branches within the plants).

WeeNel, is Argyl castle in Ayrshire? Then I think I have been in your bonny area, 1969 (a bit ago). We don't hear much about sponge cake here. What do you use it for? But I'm making two Blueberry pies tomorrow. It least I don't need advice about that--cooking hurray!!
Diana--I moved here from Berkeley CA 1996. Didn't know Contra Costa had heavy soil. Don't remember Berkeley's.
About NC----I know nothing!!
Thanks again.
Ally