Declining Japanese Maple

This two and a half year old residential Japanese maple in Aiken County was exhibiting symptoms of decline, including dieback, browning and yellowing of leaves, premature leaf drop, and black lesions and cankers on one of the stems. Diagnosis:
stress caused by over watering and deep planting. Soils were waterlogged with a thick, dark brown sludge. Roots stopped receiving adequate oxygen and therefore the tree did not receive adequate moisture uptake as well. Soils were oversaturated and plant diagnostics revealed infection by three different pathogens (Botryosphaeria, Phomopsis, and Anthracnose).
Solution: Correct deep planting, adjust irrigation, add a layer of organic mulch, and remove infected branches and dispose of debris.