Hi Ruth and don't worry your cypress is still a healthy plant. From the image you sent I see lots of healthy new top growth and it is just the bottom branches that are sparse and browning. Go ahead and cut the lowest branches off close to the main trunk. This will give the tree a more formal feel with an exposed trunk, but it will instantly look much better. I suspect the full sun location along with the nearby rocks just left the shrub too hot and thirsty last summer. Evergreens will often not show drought or heat stress until months after the dry period so you may not have noticed that the cypress was dry. This tree does not need constant moisture, but it will get brown sections if a hot summer bakes the roots. My suggestion is to water deeply but not often to encourage deep roots so that the tree can adapt to what may be warmer summer weather. So water once every two weeks in summer but let the hose really soak the root ball. Another tip is to put a mulch of wood chips on top of the roots without letting the mulch touch the actual trunk of the tree. A mulch will keep the soil cooler and seal in moisture. Your tree should adapt with a little extra care. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti