I am guessing that this might be Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma Goldcrest', a dwarf columnar form of Monterey cypress with bright lemon-lime needles and scent. A very widely available conifer grown primarily for container culture. If the plant in question and the base is bare, you will not get regrowth in this area. Once most conifers lose their needles in a specific area, they will not replace them. Loss of needles like this on the lower half of the tree generally indicates improper watering practices, although a very shaded condition, extreme cold or the possibility of a disease can also produce similar results.

It's not cheap ==========>>> when planted .. did you unwind circling roots... any additional facts about how it went in the ground might help i have no clue about your reference to your old post ... any chance at a link???? as to cost ... i would not spend more than a replacement tree at half the size ... and i would have never put 15 cups of anything around a tree .. whatever its problem is.. it was not a fertilizer issue ... especially if this tree is in the middle of a fertilized lawn .. which by the way .. any history of weed or crap grass killer on the lawn??? regardless.. hollytone is so mild i doubt it hurt the situation ... the bottom line.. in my warped world.. it isnt worth spending hundreds of dollars on repairs for a $50 tree ... ken

She didn't know what kind it was, she did say that someone else who'd bought some from her said it was a "Florida variety". I could take some pics of what I have later today if it would help.

Now is not the time to prune. You can prune off the dead branches in about a month, if nothing grows. Your plant has suffered the classic light change syndrome... Meyers are quite sensitive to light changes; they respond by dropping leaves and then growing new leaves better suited to the new light. Don't worry about the shape; the plant will produce new growth lower down to balance it later.