I hope my pictures came through - my japanese maple did not leaf out on one side last year, but it was just one branch. This year the other side has a few branches that did not leaf out. I can cut them all off - and reshape the tree, but because it spread this year, I am afraid there is something wrong with it.
In the thrid pic I see a splitting of the bark, is this the same branch that is failing to leaf out? When was it planted? You may want to gently scrap back the soil from around the base and see if perhalps it is girdling itself. Is it still in burlap or the cage?
Hi , thanks for replying! - no the peeling bark is really sturdy so I didn't know if it had anything to do with it. When I touch it, it is not really pealing, just cracked. One the side of the peeling bark was where it started - then it spread to the other side of the tree. It was planted about 5 years ago and has done great! It came in a container, not burlap.
Could just be winter die-back, which happens occasionally. Or, it could be verticillium wilt. When you cut the dead wood it will have dark rings and streaks in it. No way to treat it, however.
When I cut off the dead wood I will look for that. Thank so much! Although I hope I don't see it, if there is no way to treat it :(
