Garden Pests and Diseases: All my bushes are dying, 3 by SouthernBelle84

SouthernBelle84 wrote:
We just moved into a new House in NC in September. I noticed that there were some bushes that looked dead. But it was winter so was not completely sure. The bushes did not come back so I pulled them out and planted new ones. The stems appeared black almost like they were burnt. Now I am noticing that the gardenia in the front of houses has some of the same symptoms. The leaves are turning yellow and have spots and some of the limbs have died and appear charred. What is killing my bushes? Can it be stopped? Can I save this gardenia?