Just dropping in from the tree forum.

If you still have no leaves I would be worried here in zone 6.

There were a few maples up in Denver last week that were just leafing out, what part of the country are you in?

Thanks for the reply

I'm in Milwaukee. I ended up digging the tree and returning it to the store. It seems that the tree died back to the ground, and was trying to re-grow from the roots. Though the scrape test had initially showed that the branches were alive, a new scrape showed that most were dead.

So I'm now starting over with a fresh red maple :)

I have a red maple tree that I planted aug 2010 and it was every bit of 15 feet tall when I planted it. So it's been in the ground For about 18 months. This spring it has not leafed out very well. I burried it correctly and have fertilized it each spring. I see some evidence of bug infestation and there is a slimy substance coming from part of the bark that is kind of chewed out. Half of branches have leaves but the other side does not. Is there something I can do to save the tree? If so I want to do it before it gets too hot here in MO. Any help would be appreciated!

I have also done the "scrape test" and the tree is certainly alive. I don't know if the tree is just in that shock mode and it is normal for this to happen or if it an actual bug problem.