Hello - My large evergreen bonsai has a case of the creeping crud (?) and I need your help! My 12-foot evergreen (type?) has two formerly healthy branches with needles that have turned brown and appear to be dying (see photos). This condition is now starting to spread to other healthy branches. The problem began after our winter from hell two years ago and has slowly but progressively gotten worse this year. I have sought the advice of master gardeners, but to no avail. Here are the remedies I have attempted: (1) bone meal fertilizer lightly dusted around the drip line in 6-week intervals (performed twice this year), (2) trimmed dead needles and small dead branches in the early spring to reduce stress and increase available light, (3) sprayed for mites twice at 2-week intervals (Bayer Mite Control applied twice this year), (4) monthly water blasts to remove possible mites and eggs, (5) sprinklers cycle twice daily for 5-minutes each cycle (tree gets good water coverage), (6) also tried gradually cutting back 60% on watering for several weeks, but had no effect on the problem, (6) annual application in early spring of systemic Bayer Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed to this and all other evergreens and large shrubs on the property. This is a beautiful, mature and well-established tree. It is the center-piece of our front yard and would cost a fortune to replace. If I understood the cause, I could better treat the symptoms. Can you please shed some light on this situation? Thanks much, Norm