I dont know the answer but I am sure someone else will, I just wanted to say the acer was very beautiful and I hope you can restore it to its former glory.

Am guessing that you cut it down - why?

Are some Acers top grafted so that the trunk is the rootstock?
Was it diseased?

What a dreadful shame! At least there is some growth showing there - do you think it may regenerate? What was the problem? Could it have been the cold, do you think?

Thanks for the reply's. In answer to why I cut it down Kilder, it was as dead as the proverbial doe doe, there was no sign of life above, where I cut it back, so I am hopping it will come on from that point.
What I don't under stand is, that it looked so healthy last year yet it's popped it's clogs this year. Never mind I suppose this is what gardening is all about taking the rough with the smooth.

No Pam there was no signs of disease.

Thanks again.

It probably was the cold, Gattina, it defiantly wasn't in the right place. I am hoping it will come back. I can give it a go and see what happens.

My acer was beautiful last year until about june/july Jennh then it started dying back! Why, i dont know, no new buds this year so i dug it up and binned it :(((

Should be fine, will just take some time to regrow and recover. Probably the terrible growing conditions this year - a very warm March followed by a wintry April is bad for most plants.

I think the wet weather did it in. It was a wet winter and very wet spring. Going by the moss on the border stones I think that is what killed it back. Acers need good drainage. The strong winds we have had every few months has not helped.

Thanks every one

It looks as if it wants to make a comeback, with all those new growths from the trunk.