Hi, i bought this JM early October (spring here) and it had about 2 weeks of leaves, still small. Since then the leaves have shrivelled and died. The tree has been watered well with the soil always moist; i have been very careful as it is hot here 30degreesC. It was very windy in October/November; the wind has calmed down now. I cut the tree back roughly 1/3rd. Ok, should i bother with it any more or is it dead, considering it should have an abundance of green leaves? The trunk is still green... Remember im an electrician, not a photographer or gardener..lol Thanks
Looks like a disease problem to me. We see alot of this over here. The stubs from other failed branches might be a hint. The exposure also looks unfavorable, with lots of reflective surface all around--I think maybe this was pointed out earlier, if this is a specimen that was being discussed then. If the much-blamed verticillium there are supposed to be streaks under the bark, where the conductive tissue has been clogged by the fungus and caused the affected branches to die. There are also other pathogenic agents that cause Japanese maples to blight off.
Depends on what, exactly, is happening. Here one might ask USDA Cooperative Extension branch office about it. Maybe you have something like an Agriculture Ministry there, with local representation that could assist. Or a reliable independent nursery with someone on staff who knows something. Maybe even a Japanese maple specialist is fairly close by somewhere.
I read up about verticillium, and i think its a combination of the poor condition the plant was in when i bought it and the dry climate that allowed disease to attack quite easily. Im ripping it out and getting an elm, as i have others in the same soil that are healthy, perhaps resistant to the verticillium. Oh well, 100 bucks down the toilet.
