Hi John and welcome to GoY, did the pot get badly frosted/frozen last winter?

The pot stood on the patio throughout the winter and yes, plenty of very cold nights and frost. As it was said to be hardy we did not wrap it up in fleece. The pot held fine, unlike some. So I suspect some kind of disease. Both leaf and buds are coming but very very slowly and I am not sure it is going to make it! Is there a spray that might help - main feature is the sticky substance on all branches with globs of blood like sap!

Hum I still wonder if it wasn't the weather. If the pot got completely frozen the roots of the tree would not be able to breath, never mind draw in moisture. Hopefully someone else will have some suggestions. You could PM Bamboo for advise.

Thanks - I got advice from elsewhere and the verdict was canker, so I am treating the tree with Bordeaux copper fungicide and hoping it will survive!

Good luck hope it works for you