Please help. The star of my Japanese garden doesn’t look so well and I can’t tell if it’s the type of species or some other factor causing the issue. I have a Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon' and I’m noticing the branches are turning brown from the inside out on primarily one side. I do see fresh growth from the bottom of the tree to the very top so I’m thinking something must be working. The tree is about 2-3 years old and I have seen this in the past and just cut away the brown or dead branches thinking it was a normal occurrence. Also, I have the tree in a location where it receives probably 50/50 sunlight and shade. It seems the side that is the brownest gets more sunlight. The side that looks the nicest receives much less sun. I live in a mountious regoin between zones 6 and 7 of the NA plant hardiness zone map. Any thoughts or suggestions?
