I think I have made a big BOO BOO

Have been watching the Chelsea flower show and their are some absolutely beautiful ones on the stands and in the show gardens of all sizes and colours. I have had several attempts to grow an Acer and failed each time, in two different gardens. Not sure exactly where I am going wrong but perhaps I will have another attempt. I don't seem to have a problem with other plants & shrubs.

Maybe it's simply too big for the pot and needs to be planted out in the garden? We had two lovely acers in our previous garden (one red, one green) and they grew beautifully, without any special care other than pruning. They were there when we arrived and still there when we left, 25 years later. (We had a lot of rain!)

I have four different Acer's which are absolutely thriving in my garden (one in the ground and three in tubs) but I never had much success with the purple/red one until my neighbour told me it was in the wrong place in the garden. Apparently the red/purple ones don't like the morning sun! She was absolutely spot on, I moved it to the other side of the garden and it is now thriving like the others. I never worry about what type of compost - I just mix whatever I have to hand with soil from the garden, never lost anything yet!

oh wow. we had a wonderful one when we lived in North Yorkshire. near Scarborough, I think it did so well cos I watered the yard area around it a lot,,, then when we sold and moved to Swindon, the new owners,, (peasants! lol) cut it down..
whatever.

now here we had one in a pot, and I watered it a lot, then the recent hot weather and I noticed the tips died off, so dh and I quickly planted it in the ground so now we are praying... never knew that about what to plant them in,, I think I put some good compost in... hope I haven`t over done it... but I do think they like lots of water, but that is just my experience..

I would take it out asap jeannie as miracle gro is not for planting shrubs in.
John Innes No 3 with some bonemeal near the roots is ideal,
Or if acers need ericaceous compost, then use that.
If only just planted there is no harm to replant, it won’t have got going yet.

Ours are in ericaceous compost in tubs and seem to flourish with benign neglect. It could just be a reaction to being replanted jeanie or the wind which will make leaves brown at the edges. Don’t worry too much yet, keep an eye, you could always replant if you need to.

They don’t like rich soil. Maybe the MG compost is too rich for them. Avoid manure, and any fertiliser with a high nitrogen content is the kiss of death. I grew them successfully in my last garden - first in pots and then in the ground but here in this garden they are not happy. I have lost one and a recently bought one is struggling because our garden is exposed and they don’t like wind. I hope you get yours going and it gives you years of pleasure.

I have had two Acers die on me they just don’t seem to like my garden at all the first one died the first year I put it in the second one lasted one season but I ve now noticed it’s going brown so think it’s on its way out boo hoo?

I think Acers will do okay in most soils jeanie although some people do recommend ericaceous, I think as long as it’s not too alkaline it should be fine . Happy to be corrected though. I would maybe check the drainage in your planters.