Can my Japanese Acer be saved?

Chocolate

Something has happened to my beautiful 17 year old Japanese Acer.

It should be in full leaf now but as you can see it is really struggling.

I can still see quite a good few new buds that have yet to open but nothing on the usual scale.

I asked in a garden centre nearby and was told that it could be root rot after the very wet few months.

He said give it another two weeks but added that if it's root rot, I could be in trouble.

Do you concur? I'd hate to lose it.

standardg60

It's been one of the coldest wettest Springs so far so i wouldn't worry yet, the leaves so far look fine. The Fatsia looks very malnourished so i'd feed the whole area with a granular fertilizer.

Chocolate

I'll update this thread.
One month later and my acer is looking much improved.
It's still not as full as it should be but I no longer think it's at death's door.
The leaf growth from the main stem of the tree is unusual. This year, I have a lot of new leaves growing directly from the bigger, older branches. This is not its normal growth pattern. I wonder is it a sign that it went through a bit of trauma.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122208445#Comment_122208445

I imagine it grew like that lower down because it was less exposed there, see how the healthier growth lines up with the height of the wall.

Anyway should be fine now OP