lavatera

[cindygee]

I hard pruned my lavatera in early April. It has been growing well until last week when I noticed the leaves starting to droop and die. There are brown marks appearing on the stems which look as though the stem has been pinched, the leaves above these marks are the ones which are affected. I have sprayed with bug killer but there does not appear to be any difference. Have I lost my beautiful Lavatera?