Conifers that have reached that stage don't normally green up again Hank. The only thing I can think of that might work is to let the sides grow up taller and train them over the top but the bush would then be bigger and it might not be very successful anyway. Whether its worth trying depends on how much you want to save the shrub..

Thanks Sue, I'll try what you suggest.

That's the one that was infested with ivy last fall, isn't it? I would snip away all the dead twigs, so plenty of light can reach the interior. Then I would feed it gently with Grow More, or something similar--we use cottonseed meal, here--and pluck the growing tips out of all the new "fronds" that I see. Then I would hose off the top once a week for the next month, while looking for new sprouts. It may still take another year or two before it fills in entirely.

Wow Tug, do you think that will work? I really hope it does.
I've never seen one recover from that point.

Might as well go for it Tug, thanks.

Bonsai artists continually bless the ability of members of the cypress family for limited stump sprouting. The main requirements are light, and adequate nutrition. I just recently re-worked a juniper bonsai at work. It must have thought that it had gotten drunk and joined the Marines! New shoots are already appearing, and I'll have to rub off the ones that will obscure the shape.

Tug,
Have started the job and done as you suggested. I have a large bag full of fish, blood and bone - or must it be growmore as you suggested !

Fish, blood and bone should work--anything slow acting and with nitrogen, in moderation. Growmore was the only thing common to the UK that I could think of quickly! Here in Arizona, we use cottonseed meal, but that is probably hard to come by, there.

Thanks, going out right now to do it.