My five year old Sambucus, which got to about 7 feet high and looked gorgeous until last year, is dying I think. If anyone knows what this could be, I'd appreciate help. Last year the leaves on the tips started to droop, then turned brown and the berries turned black. We pruned those branches off and it looked horrible but we thought it was saved. Now it's starting again and of course looks awful because there are even fewer branches. Some people have said it's verticillum wilt, others suggest maybe a borer but I can't find any. My husband said he heard on local radio that there's a ground fungus (verticillum?) - he couldn't remember the name of the disease. I'm in the burbs of Chicago. Anyone know anything about this problem?

Thanks in advance

Westy