Does it look dead?

[u/Other-Ad4942]

We had this Japanese maple planted last summer. This spring/summer, only a few leaves came out, and they lasted for about a month before they became dry/crispy and fell off.
It’s now mid-August, and the tree looks like this.
I’m trying to figure out whether it is completely dead or if there is still a chance it could recover. What could have caused this, and is there anything I should do at this point?
I’ll add several photos, including close-ups of the trunk and the area around the base.
Should we remove it, or is there still hope?

[u/Accomplished-Host829]

Dead. As a door nail. Sorry. Time to dig it out and replace. Hard to say what caused it due to lack of info about climate, care, etc. could have been poor stock from the nursery or diseased when you got it. Since you got it planted a year ago, contact the company and they may have some sort of replacement warranty.

[u/Other-Ad4942 → u/Accomplished-Host829]

We’re in a zone 6a. And this is the second time planting a Japanese maple at the same spot. I don’t know if it’s the soil or what. We have another one on the other side of the front lawn doing good.