Help with Acer/Japanese Maple tree needed

[Growing4twins]

Ok, lets try this again but with the correct Tree name lol

I had a pot bound acer tree in the garden inherited from my land-lord, his OH just loved to shove everything in pots!!

It was on its last legs, 2 of the shoots had died & some of the branches had aswell, so i decided to plant it out. Then things just got worse, what few leaves it had died off & the main trunk of the tree started to die.  It stands about 5 foot high & ild guess that the top 2-3 foot has died    Should i cut down the dead wood & if so how far away from the healthy part of the tree should i cut?

There are plenty of healthy leaves around the base of the tree, looks like its gonna turn into a bush.

[Growing4twins]

[Obelixx]

First of all you need to check if it's a grafted variety.  There will be a thickening where the top branches sprout from the main stem.  If so, then the graft union has failed or is failing but the presence of shoots and fliage lower down indicates the rootstock is OK.

I wouldn't prune it at all before the worst of the frosts is over next spring as what's left may suffer frost damage and further die back.

Give it a handful of bonemeal worked gently into the soil around its base and make sure it isn't in a dry or exposed and windy spot.  They need mositure at their roots and protection from strong sun and wind which scorch the leaves.

If a really hard frost is forecast, protect it with a layer or two of horticultural fleece.  You can hold this in place with mini tent pegs or stones.

Next spring, have a look and see where any shoots are coming from.  Prune out any obvious dead stems - they'll look dry and grey probably.  Leave other stems till June to see what shoots.   You may end up with just the rootstock but, given a chance, that will grow into a small bushy tree with maple foliage, just not the less robust fancy kind.

[Growing4twins]

Thx for getting back to me :)