My Dwarf Japanese maple tree has no buds and no leafs. It was a full and lush tree the last 2 years. Is it dead?

It is early yet, so be patient. If you want to check, use your thumbnail to scrape away a bit of the outer bark of the red twigs. If it is green underneath, there is life. You can then go to some of the darker limbs and do the same thing. Just take tiny peeks and you won't harm the tree.

Definitely check, as George suggested, but I would say it should at least have swelling buds by now, if not leaves. The 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple we have here has its new leaves now. A few years ago we did have a cut-leaf Japanese maple suddenly die with a failed graft union after several years of being fine. Whether that's what has happened to yours is hard to say unless there is some new, and probably different looking, new growth at the base that doesn't show in the picture.

Considering the size of the hosta in the background, it should be fully leafed out.

I would also move that mulch away from the base of the tree. That might be at least part of the problem.

I have lost several Japanese Maples over the years. Sorry but this one looks like a goner to me. Welcome to a new member.....

Thanks everyone! We did have two last year that we thought were gonners but they ended up blooming at the end of june so i will atleast wait till the end of the month. If nothing happens we will have to dig it up.

@PotEmUp, hey, long time no see!!