Japanese maple, Need Help!

[JP6716]

Hi, I have a japanese maple tree in my backyard, it has been a healthy tree up until this year. About half of the tree appears dead and I have no idea on the cause. My dad used old leaves to mulch and cover the old roots, I'm not sure if that is a contributing factor. What can I do to save my tree?

[jomoco]

Phytopthora remorum?

 

Phytophthora root rot/RHS Gardening

 

Take a sample of affected wood to a plant pathology lab for analysis, and you'll know for sure.

 

Jomoco

[paul kelly]

The removal of pine trees adjacent, suggests to me that you have removed the maples shelter, exposing the tree to light/heat levels that it doesn't like. Is the dead side of the canopy recieving the most sun light.

 

Also trees can suffer with sun burn, again it may not of protected itself sufficently, due to shade caused by Pine trees

 

difficult one i would suggest looking at the base 1st systematically working up the tree. Soil compaction will cause lack of nutrient/ water percolation to the roots, this can be caused by excavotors, if any building works has taken place.

[woodyguy]

Or you could try what has been suggested twice and cut through a diseased branch to see if it has the brown rings of verticillium wilt which is the commonest killer of larger Acers.