Recently my blue ice cypress and/or blue point juniper are turning brown on the inner most stems,and have began shedding these needles. Exploring ask extension I've learned this may be due to the lack of sunlight on the interior of these branches, and is quite normal. The exterior seems healthy and thriving but in spite of this my blue ice cypress has become less dense and even splotchy or thin. Is this normal and would fertilizing help? Any advice for a more complete look?

Also, would watering the cypress using a sprinkler be ideal?