Question: Isolated branches keep dying in my shrub junipers. I don’t see any insects. What might cause it?

Answer: Check closely at the point to which they die back. If it looks like it’s been ringed and girdled, that’s probably left over from an old bagworm tying fiber. As the branch has grown larger, the fiber eventually cuts through the tissues. Many types also have a serious disease issue that causes significant branches to die unexpectedly. Prune to remove the dead areas. Disinfect your pruning tools in a 10-percent solution of chlorine bleach between cuts, to slow the spread of the disease.