In 2012 or so I "rescued" a Japanese Maple sapling that had been thrown into the woods along with several other trees still in their plastic containers by an unscrupulous developer who discarded leftover landscaping following completion of a subdivision. Although it was barely alive, I planted my "rescue maple" and nursed it tenderly. It practically doubled in size over the next four years, from about three feet tall to almost six feet now, although it is still very much a sapling. It has been robust and fully leaved each year since. But last fall the tree didn't lose its leaves in the fall. And this spring it never leafed out. A few of last fall's leaves are still gray and curled on the branches. When I researched the internet about the problem several weeks ago, several suggestions ranged from lack of water to a parasitic infestation, but I have not had to manually water this tree since its first year and close inspection shows no borer activity or other evidence of infestation that I could recognize. The tree is not dead, as there is robust leaf activity at the base of the trunk on the ground. There is some evidence of deer rutting on the trunk, but nothing that girdles the tree completely. The tree is near to, but not within, the drip line of a black walnut, so I don't think the maple's malaise is from black walnut toxin. I have a baby fig tree a lot closer to a black walnut and it leafed out beautifully this spring. I live in Owings Mills on two acres of largely undisturbed land in a home that was constructed in 1862. When the USGS needed a soil sample in the vicinity of Soldiers Delight (I live on the northeast corner of Deer Park and Lyons Mill roads), they chose my property since my land is largely the way it was 150 years ago. When I bought the house in 2001, a Bing cherry tree was in the location of the Japanese maple, but after my first year here the cherry stopped producing and eventually died, as did a pear and two apple trees on the property. I surmised at the time that the fruit trees were all planted when the house was built in 1862 and had simply reached the end of their lifespans, and I still believe that to be the case. The Japanese maple gets strong morning light and dappled sunlight the rest of the day from a pair of giant oak trees that grace my front yard, one of which is in contention to be the third largest white oak in Maryland. My yard was certified as a Baywise garden in 2015, so there are no pesticides or fertilizers that could be impacting the Japanese maple. I work at home if anyone would like to stop by and take a look at this remarkable piece of property. I am attaching some photos of my little acer. If you can call me or email with any suggestions of how to rescue my "rescue maple" from the brink of whatever is afflicting it, I would most appreciate your help. Thank you! .