I think my Japanese Maple is dying. Anyone else lost plants over the winter?

[DowntonTrout]

We have lost a lot of bushes and shrubs over the last few winters. These are well established, mature plants. Almost all my Rosemary went, along with some large fir bushes that just went brown and never recovered.
I have just noticed that only a few, selected branches on my 20 foot, 30 plus year old Japanese Maple have any leaves.

The branches that do have leaves look fine, the leaves do not seem to have brown patches or fungus. Other branches are completely bare. I'm really sad, it grows next to a magnolia tree and they look beautiful together. Has anyone else had a problem with their Acers or have any idea what could have caused it/what to do now?

Some acers don't like cold winds, but if it has survived all that long I wonder if it has a finite life span?

See if you can find an acer enthusiasts web site, or RHS for more reliable information.

This happened to mine. :-(
Last summer a few branches appeared dead. This spring there were only a few leaves coming off the main trunk.

What have you done with yours?
Can we save them?!

My viburnum opulus didnt make it this year. I noticed last summer that it was sparse but nothing now. I think the bad winter of 2012/13 did the damage.
I'm sad about it, it was gorgeous and about fifteen years old. :(

Last year my maple started losing leaves and branches and the leaves it had weren't great. Turned out to be scale - sprayed it twice and this year seems to be its best yet except when DS2 hits it with a light sabre

My beautiful magnolia stellata hasn't flowered at all this year, it's usually covered in blooms

Well, it's not looking good. Two branches with rather small leaves. The rest appears to be dead

Haven't been able to find much information about anything specific.