Hello, I have an approximately 7 year-old Paperbark Maple Tree which the nursery planted for me in my yard when it was about 3 years old. Last winter I noticed that about one third of the branches had no buds on them. As the season progressed these same branches appeared brittle in a strong wind. (We had a very dry & cold winter in 2014-2015; but, the tree recovered well. Only the fall colors were less spectacular last Fall, 2015. It stands about 15 ft. tall.) In March I began feeding it with a Scotts' Miracle Gro product diluted in water and poured directly on the ground out to the extent of its branch spread. (Over the winter I would ensure that its "alligator pouch" as I call it, would be filled when empty about every two weeks.) Today, May 13, 2016 I see no improvement whatsoever in its leafing out, only one-half to two-thirds of the branches developed leaves. While questioning my lawn mowing crew, I reached out to tentatively wiggle a lower branch about 5 feet off the ground. I only wanted to see if it was green or dead. It had never been injured in any way. It stands in an open area about 30 to 40 ft. away from a mature maple, neither a Norway, Sugar, nor a Red and about an equal distance from a grass-covered, 20 degree slope beyond it. The ground is well-drained. Surprise, it detached completely at a point about three-quarters of an inch inside of the trunk, leaving a circular hole! The crewman broke off a few, short, leafless branches above it and found a slight greenish fungus(?) on some exterior areas on them. I didn't see any sign of a fungus on the trunk itself. There are two flowering dogwood trees in a neighbor's yard about 40 feet away to the East. Although I have been watching for any problems beneath their bark as well as on my own specimen maple tree, I found nothing. I love this beautiful tree and want to know what I can do to bring about its healing! My only garden problem up until now was the loss of my two Camelias last Spring, 2015 which stood a few feet away from my covered patio. By last Fall, 2015 I knew they weren't coming back so I cut their trunks down to a few inches above the soil. I'm still hoping that a few sparse twigs will appear with leaves that I will recognize as young Camelias. Without voicing it I silently blamed my next door neighbor as he had erected a 6 ft. tall wood, stockade fence the full length of my side yard. I worried because many of my plantings there preferred a bright, breezy location and now the wind comes only from the south and his house blocks most of the light to the west. (I was careful that this location did not catch any morning sun as Camelias are picky about that.) I also lost about 6 "Blue Star" Juniper ground covers which complimented the rest of my design for my narrow, side, urban garden in Conshohocken, PA. What does flourish there now is a row of Hellebores of every color I could locate. Every other evergreen has failed. I no longer have the bright, festive, pinkish blooms of the Camelias into the Fall. Instead the Hellebores bring me my first bit of color in winter and are just about finished now except for a few hardy flowers. The last detail to mention is the stockade fence's proximaty to my ailing Maple Tree - about two and a half to three feet away from its trunk. The Maple's shape and branch spread is upright. And no, the fence was nonexistent when my garden was finished. My name is Ann. Phone no. is<personal data hidden>. <personal data hidden> is useable only when the local public library is open. Thank you for your thoughtful response. I do enjoy your Master Gardener Speakers and their helpful advice. Unfortunately, this problem was beyond their experience or knowledge.