Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: My Candy Coralberry is dying., 1 by chris_h

chris_h wrote:
Something very bad is happening to my Candy Coralberry. About mid-July branches began to die. I first noticed a few of the taller branches wilting and upon examination found that leaves had already turned brown at the bottom of those branches. Eventually these branches died completely, leaves crispy and wood brittle. I cut them out but every few days more branches were turning brown and dying. After I noticed the problem I watered the area and took care to water (but not over water) during a hot dry spell which is typical in July. Branches are continuing to brown and die and I am fully expecting the whole bush to go in the next few weeks. This is it\'s third season in my garden and it looked great until this July. Now I want to decide if there is any hope for it next spring or if I should just replace it with something else. I cannot find anything online describing this problem. I have posted three photos. The first is how it looked last October, the second how it looked this June (behind and on the left of statue) and the last, how it looks now. As I look at that last photo, I think it is a goner. I would like some opinions, please. I sure wish I knew what has happened.