where are you ... what the native soil. how did they come ... how did you plant ... etc .. the more useful the info you provide.. the better the answers ...

mushrooms mean something int he ground is rotting ... what was there previously ...

remove the landscape fabric ...

when planting large multiples.. its not uncommon to lose some .. it might just be easier to get rid of those two.. and replace them in fall ...

im not one to spend 20 dollars to save a 10 dollar plant ....

ken

It may be verticillium wilt.

Thank you Ken and Unclehippie!

I'm not trying to save the plant, but it's spreading so I must find a solution. We live in Los Angeles and these privets were planted about 3 years ago (from 5 gallon pots). The disease/issue started to appear about a year ago. The soil is kinda sandy and I think rose were planted there previously.

One thing that does not match verticillium wilt is that the leaves do not turn brown before they fall off.

Did the disease happen fairly soon after you put mulch around them?

The mulch and landscape fabric were there from day one. Another observation is that we do see a lot of ants in and around the area.