Thanks for your replies. Frankly, I'm mystified about what could be causing this. From the get-go, the soil was basically the same on both sides of the path. How do I know? Because when we built the house and landscaped it, we dug out and removed the soil around the house for the foundation plantings. Then, we backfilled it with amended top soil. We even had to rent a jackhammer to escavate the area because we ran into a large vein of shale. Oh how I remember that well. My husband still quotes me saying "I'm not doing this all day. I'll have organ damage." The tree roots do not extend to this area because they stop at a retaining wall up from this plant. The kurumes have been in the ground for 14 years and both have done well on either side up until the last 3 years. I've been treating the sick one with Hollytone, which definitely helps. The severe drought last year sort of amplified this plant's problem, so I am giving it one more year or so to rehabilitate. I've thinned out the worst-looking branches and like I said, applied Hollytone to help with the chlorosis. If it doesn't perk up permanently, I may take your suggestion to replace it with something else. I just like that symmetry for paths.

this is what happens.. when one sees these cute little babes for sale ... and doenst understand the potential ... the base problem here.. is that these are forest production trees... not landscape plants ... and whoever planted them.. did not understand the difference ... in snowload.. and ice areas.. these would be nightmare trees... as well as hurricane areas ... i do not know WA well enough to fear for you .... for sure... the micro climate allowed them to grow to this size and height.. w/o any significant apparent damage... historically ... so why should we worry now ... IMHO .. as to OP ... they either all go.. or they all stay .. subject to winning the lotto .. lol ... i can not comprehend.. what might be the result ... with removal of some but not all ... you wont be able to grind the stumps... you arent going to grow grass ... and you will significantly change the micro climate... what is now a rather weather proof situation.. will all of a sudden not be as windproof as it was previously.. because you changed the dynamic ... that group of conifer.. trees... are relying on each other.. as they have for decades... change something.. at your own peril ... s the result will be unpredictable ... whats that cliche... the result of unintended consequences ...??? ken

From NH Hosta- The Recipe For Organic Vole & Mouse Control Large Area Applications Using A Hose-End Sprayer 1 - 2 Oz Castor Oil 1 - 2 Oz Dish Detergent Add the mixture to the jar of the hose end sprayer. Then fill the jar with water. Attach to your hose and thoroughly water every location that you want to deter the pests from. If your hose-end sprayer has a dial, set it to the highest setting. Small Area Application Using A Watering Can 1 teaspoon Castor Oil 1 teaspoon Dish Detergent Add this mixture to 1 gallon of water and thoroughly water the area to be protected. How To Apply The Organic Vole Control You want to water the ground, not spray it. You should thoroughly wet the soil so that the mixture penetrates a few inches into the soil. It is hard to say how much lawn and garden area the solution will cover. You just want to make sure you get the mixture into the soil. You Do Not Have To Re-Apply After A Rain You may want to re-apply in spring if you have damage during the growing season. Some people do and some don't. Mostly vole and mole damage is just a winter issue as the pests are desperate for a food source. When To Apply The Organic Vole Control You want to apply the mixture before the ground freezes and after you have cleaned away all the leaves from your garden. This is typically after a few frost's. This Castor Oil solution is organic and will not harm wildlife or pets. It just makes those garden pests move out of your gardens! Here is a link that might be useful: Castor oil vole control

No need to ask, I thought it might be Waterloo. Not even sure it's worth driving up there anymore...looks like this is in its final days? My, how the mighty have fallen. When I first visited Waterloo & Styers in the late 90s, I was awed by their sophistication, as far as "local nurseries" went. But the fact no one wanted to buy this once-storied name is a sign that even in SE PA, the horticultural biz is not what it used to be. OTOH Rarefind found a buyer, it's not a far drive from the Philly 'burbs, and it's _always_ been a more interesting place than almost any non-mail order nursery in the mid-Atlantic, with the exception of Triple Oaks and a couple others, because of the extensive display gardens and mind-boggling selection. At any rate the original Waterloo had a reputation of being run by real horticulturalists, and I can't believe they would have sold a tender strain of C. deodara back then. As for the past few years I don't know. I hadn't been there since about 2008 and they could have changed ownership. What probably happened? The sliver of the market interested in special things started going online and finding out about places like Rarefind. Average Joes started buying plants at Walmart, Lowes & HD, or Wegmans. Here is a link that might be useful: http://waterloogardens.com/