I don't know anything about gardening but I have a small patch of gravel out front where I like to keep some potted plants. My acer's leaves came back healthy after winter but as you can see it isn't doing too good now. I thought the crispy leaves might be because I let it dry out (I was ill for a couple weeks when we had some dry, sunny weather), but looking at the base I noticed this white stuff: https://i.imgur.com/2qc87P3.jpeg, not sure if it's scale or something else? Any ideas what I can do? I see a fair number of tiny bugs and ants in the soil but I'm not sure what's normal. I'm located in the UK, if that matters.
This one got dry. It is in shock and will lose its leaves and grow new ones (provided it is still alive.) You can snap a stem or small branch and if it seems green, you may be good to go. Just keepnit watered and out of the hot, hot sun.
Yeah. It might only regrow very small leaves this year, but as long as it has its regular needs met, it ought to be fine next year (barring anything weird these guys do that I don't know about).