What's wrong with my Acer?!!

[iamloading]

Please help! Last year my Acer (red Canadian maple) was glorious. You couldn't see the trunk the foliage was so thick. This year about 2/3rds of it is black / dead. Any ideas? It's still a young tree and cost a fortune too!!

Hi. Ithink I have the same one, and lost half of it in the same way. Don’t know what caused it, but I cut all the dead bits out, cleaning my secateurs as I went, and gathering all the diseased material and it seems to have survive. I left it a few weeks and then pruned more conservatively , for balance.

I love acers but they do seem quite high maintenance regarding its position and environment. They're very sensitive to dry and especially exposed sites. I can't seem to keep one without its leaves dropping off from the wind.

What is wrong with your acer may depend on where it is situated. Acers prefer ericaceous soil and lots of water. If your acer is in a pot, scrape out some of last year's soil from the top and the edges and replace with fresh ericaceous soil. Also, because acers are lime hating, try to water as often as possible with rain water (from a water butt) rather than tap water.

Is it wind damage?

(ie wind burn?)

It's in the ground in the middle of the garden. So wind damage sounds most likely as it is very windy here in winter. I'm so sad as it was glorious last year!
I've given all the dead a heavy pruning so hopefully it will rally

I've experienced similar with two acers. It was a fungal soil borne disease called verticillium wilt. It affects acers and other plants and is identifiable from dark rings in the cross section of a diseased branch or trunk. The first symptoms were wilting leaves which we initially put down to windburn and/or drought. But then whole sections of the trees died back. We saved one by cutting out all the dead/dying sections, being careful about disposing of the diseased wood and cleaning secateurs/loppers. It's now flourishing, fingers crossed, if still a little lopsided. The other, which was mature and very well established, didn't make it.
I'd suggest checking for the dark rings in any parts that don't look healthy and cut out affected branches being very careful about hygiene. With luck you'll catch it in time.

Middle of the garden may not be the best spot for it if you get a lot of wind as they tend to prefer a sheltered spot. We have 3 acers and I love them! hope yours survives.