Help with Japonica

[Nourishinghandcream]

Can anyone offer some words of advice about my 3-year old Japonica please?

Leafs turning yellow/brown and dropping off, buds turning brown instead of opening.
Presume it is down to a combination of issues? Prolonged, early season warm sun with no shade (adjacent tree & hedging is only now coming into leaf), dry ground so I watered using tap water (hard water area) as our water butts are empty.

Should I move it into a more shady spot or hope this spring was a one-off?
Is it even likely to survive?

It looks like a Camellia to me. Give it some ericaceous plant feed, which you can get at garden centres and that should perk it up. Plenty of water too. If you have no rain water, then add a little vinegar to the watering can.

Definitely a Camellia. Japonica is a species name indicating a plant originated from Japan. Prefers a semi shaded position in acid soil. They will tolerate neutral soil. Add some ericaceous feed, water and mulch. Tap water is better than no water! Consider moving into a shadier spot in the Autumn.

Thanks both.👍
Will give it a feed tomorrow.
Have been watering it regularly in the recent dry spell but when the water butts ran dry I went to tap water and it is very hard around here.

Shame as it has done so well up until this spring.☹️