Question
I have a row of 9 arbor vitae trees that were planted by the previous owner as a privacy screen.  They are about 20+ feet tall now and are planted quite close together.  Earlier this spring, one of the end trees died very quickly (#1 tree).  Now, both the #2 (next to #1 tree) and #5 (with three other trees in between )trees in the row are dying quickly.  By quickly, I mean they go from being totally green to almost all gold needles in 2-3 weeks.

I started watering them about a week ago by putting the hose at the base of the tree with it dribbling.  It may have delayed their demise a bit, but then I was gone for 4 days and now they're almost all dead needles on the #2 and #5 trees.  The other trees still look good so I'm not sure whether lack of water is the issue.  I live in Arlington VA.  We had a lot of rain in June, but very little since.

There is some ivy on the ground below the trees, which I've begun to pull out, and also a bed of dead needles several inches thick.  The ivy had wound around the trunk of the #1 tree when it died.  We thought that was the cause.  We've made sure no ivy is around the trunks of the other trees and have begun to pull it out altogether.

That's about all the info I can think of to tell you.  If you have questions, please feel free to email them to me.  

Thank you very much for your help!  I hate to see trees die!!  

Answer
Pam,
I think the problem is mites. These tiny arachnids suck the juices out of the leaves and turn them a goldish bronze color.
Treat the arbs with a registered miticide and fertilize them well this fall and again in the spring. They should recover.
Good luck.
Ed Gulliksen