My Elderberry needs help!

[Martha Mealey]

I bought & planted my elderberry in the spring and it has slowly been dying.  From the bottom up each row of branches.  I live in WA state so it doesn't get hot up here but a couple days a year.  Can anybody tell me what is happening?  I water it every day since this started.  I haven't tried fertilizing it.

[Shannon Laud]

Just a guess and hard to tell without seeing it, but could grubs be munching on the roots? As an elderberry plant gets stressed it starts dropping leaves starting from the bottom most ones, and stops when it can support itself or the stress goes away, a few dropped bottom leaves is no big deal but if it is continuing up the plant then you are right to be concerned and like you said I doubt it is lack of water. Do the leaves that are still there look healthy?  Lack of nutrients may be the cause, but I would think that would more likely cause stunted growth and an unhealthy looking plant than a slow death.   Perhaps give it a shot of mild fertilizer (10/10/10) anyway and definitely treat the ground for grubs. Elderberries don't really like wet feet so slightly damp soil as opposed to soggy it better. If you don't think this plant is going to survive it is not to late to get some seeds in the ground this year if you hurry.