It looks like a freeman maple, likely Autumn Blaze. It seems to be underwatered. Can we see a photo of the base of the tree, a close up of a leaf, and a photo of the whole tree? It could also be improper planting/mulching that is contributing to it's decline. It isn't dying yet, but will be if not cared for.

It's planted too deep and doesn't have any mulch. Remove all of the grass around it in a 4ft circle, and excavate around the trunk until you find the root flare. Then, spread a 2-inch thick layer of non-died (no red/orange) mulch in the ring, not touching the trunk or root flare. Water thoroughly when the soil is dry.

Full Tree

Remove the stakes and prune out any dead wood, then follow my last instructions.

Will do. Thanks Logan.

oh my ... where are you .. whats the native soil .. whats been the rain this year ... while you are removing the grass ... ASAP .. go dig 2 or 3 holes.. 3 to 5 inches deep ... AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY MOISTURE DOWN THE THE ROOT ZONE ...

IF NOT.. PUT A HOSE ON TRICKLE FOR A COUPLE HOURS.. AND GET IT SOME WATER ...oops...

then pull back the soil to find the root flare as noted above ...

i see new construction in the last pic.. this look like a typical tree planting.. by a house builder.. lol ...

see link on proper watering.. etc..

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

No more leaf left. This is how it looked so far.

Does it look like it will come back?

Maples are pretty tough and it may put forth more leaves yet this year. The problem comes in when you don't fix the problems that made it that way in the first place.

Did you find the root flare? Was it at the surface of the ground or was it below grade? Trees planted too deep in the ground is the #1 reason for failure and even some nurseries do it wrong.

When you were digging, was the soil dry a few inches down? Maples like water, even more when they are transplanted and don't have many roots so the ground needs to be thoroughly soaked over a period of time to make sure water gets down to and below the root ball.

This is where soil type comes in. Is your soil Sandy? Clay? Mixture?

Did you find any wires or plastic fabric that was left on or around the trunk or root ball?

The reason for the mulch is that grass competes for moisture, more than that, it sucks moisture so bad that if you surface water with a hose or sprinkler, a lot of times the water never gets past the root zone of the grass. So your tree suffers. The larger the ring the better for a larger tree whos roots will reach far out past the crown area to find water.

But we really need to know about that root flare...

While the planting depth is generally very important for long-term health of a tree, it is highly unlikely that that is the source of the stress this tree is experiencing right now. Planting depth is a problem that needs to be addressed for future health reasons. Proper moisture control is probably the critical factor to minimize stress/shock and keep the tree alive right now. Carefully go through the guide Ken linked above, it has a lot of information that you may find relevant.

P.S. .... What's up with that "pruning" job???

The tree needs to be raised. You did everything else correctly, but you should've raised the tree first.

The number one issue at this point is to make sure that tree is planted correctly as I alluded to in my previous post. The next is to get the moisture issue fixed. There may be other issues that can be checked at this time also, like root ball coverings.

The pictures do not adequately show the area we are concerned about, that is why I asked the OP the questions I did. I believe the tree is too deep but don't have enough information to make that determination at this time.

Finally got chance to scratch up the tree base and look into it. Seems like trunk is dig deep inside. I put my index finger 2/3 down and still could not found the main root system. I stop scraping as I am afraid I accidentally damage the root system. I have also noticed brake of the tree are cracking up. And this year leaf isn't full on the tree.

As suggested above last year I did clear the mulch near the truck, surround the tree with regular mulch and watered regularly.

I was wondering if I should consider removing this tree and plant new one. Should I have someone check it first? If so any suggestion on whom I should look for?

I have posted few new photos of root system. Any suggestion is appreciated.

Thanks

I'd have it placed. I don't know how long the tree has been in the ground but if you have any warranty from the planter/nursery, that's where to begin.

That split in the trunk is an entry way for rot to begin so even if you raised the tree, there is damage that cannot be fixed. So remove and replace is the best coarse at this time.

Sadly seems like this tree is dead completely even after mulching & watering. No leaf came this year. But small branch did pop up from the base of the tree. So now I am thinking should I

- completely remove dead tree and new "branches" or

- just cut down the main tree and leave the small one and let it grow.

Hoping it will become tree again. I am not sure even if new branch can/will grow as full tree from this point.

Any suggestion is appreciated. Thanks.

Get a new tree, plant it correctly and you will have something nice to look at almost immediately.

The last maple I grew from bottom growth, got rot from the old stump into the new stump and it failed miserably.