What's eating my dawn redwood 'gold rush'?

Dawn Redwood 'Gold Rush' is generally tough, but its golden foliage can attract spider mites in hot, dry summers, causing bronzing and needle drop. Bagworms occasionally colonize the soft needles. In gardens with high deer pressure, young trees are browsed. Japanese beetles and aphids are occasional minor problems.

Bronzed, dusty-looking needles, especially in dry summer heat; fine webbing on shoots Water trees regularly during drought stress; spray foliage with a strong water jet or apply horticultural oil in late spring before hot weather; repeat if needed

Silk-and-foliage bags hanging from branches; defoliation of needles if populations are heavy Hand-pick and destroy bags in winter; spray young caterpillars in late spring with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad

Browsed soft new growth and stripped lower branches on young trees Fence young trees or use tree tubes for the first few years; repellent sprays help but need reapplication after rain