I planted this maple November 1st of last year, so it hasn't been in the ground for a year. The drought has been pretty rough here, hardly any rain...so I started watering it a month or two ago. Not overnight, but within a week or two, a patch of bark (the large part on the bottom) disappeared within the night. Then the top park started to peel back. I don't think root depth is the issue (I can see the very tops of the roots out from the flare, though you might not see it in the picture...

I wonder if it was from being dry and then starting to water it a ton all of a sudden. Is this tree on its way out? Can it be saved? What do I need to do.

Any help is graciously appreciated!