Delayed Leaf Growth or is it dying 💀?
I have an Acer palmatum that has been very healthy and thriving the last 3 years. We are zone 6, but on the border with zone 5. Only a small portion of the tree has started to leaf out but the rest of the tree hasn’t. I’ve done a scratch test on the top portion of the tree that hasn’t yet produced leaves, and it is still green and appears to be alive. Just no leaf production yet. We had an early long harsh winter starting right after Halloween. I’m really hoping that the top portion survives. Any thoughts? Would greatly appreciate the opinions and recommendations of those more educated in this than me. I’m hoping it is just delayed due to stress or a late/cold spring and not dying off? For right now I’m just in a holding pattern to wait and see before giving up hope and cutting it back.