Question
I live on the shores of Lake Ontario in Canada.
My question concerns purple-leaf sand cherries. I have four which were planted four years ago. They are on each side of my patio, between 12-20ft away from each other, in full to almost-full sun. The soil is on the sandy side, but has been ammended. The bushes were well-watered two weeks ago, and we have had a few rainy days since then.
One has always been sickly, and last year its leaves began to shrivel.This year the condition is almost 100% and now my other bushes, which were looking robust, are showing a few shrivelled branch tips and one has an infestation of greenfly.
I removed the wilted areas four days ago, but a few more have appeared today.(I disinfected my pruners)
On closer inspection the leaves begin by browning down the centre vein and the leaf has  pale brown dry patches. They finaly shrivel and the tip of the branch curls over.
Can this be verticulum wilt? As I am about to sell my house, is there anything I can do to keep these bushes healthy?  

Answer
Arline,

It is possible that the plants have been infected by Vert. Wilt. The following website can explain everything about the disease: http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1164.html

The best way to help the plants is to fertilize them heavily to try to force the plants to out grow the disease.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen