Acer looking stressed

[Nourishinghandcream]

Hello kind Mnetters.👋

Bought our Acer Firecracker back in the summer (lovely specimen from a reputable nursery).
Planted it a few weeks later in a semi shaded spot using ericaceous compost plus have fed it every couple of weeks with liquid ericaceous food. Have also watered regularly although not (I hope) too much as we are on clay and I didn't want it sitting in wet soil/compost although I am also very aware of how hot/dry it has been.
Although it showed a couple of dried, crispy leaf tips early on, this is now spreading and is much more evident across the whole plant (see photos).

My question. Is this normal at this time of year, stress from planting (although this was now probably more than 6-weeks ago), me not watering it sufficiently or something else?
Advice & ideas welcome please.😁

I have a similar Acer and I would guess it is either too sunny or too windy where it is.

Geneticsbunny Thanks.👍

Unfortunately it is neither in direct sun and is in a very sheltered position almost completely unaffected from wind (today being a case in point).
In high summer it would get some mid-morning sun (but very little since bringing it home and (later) planting) but it is deliberately positioned in this sheltered spot.

Maybe it is just sulking because it didn't like being moved out of its pot. I don't think it looks too bad. If you are lucky the resident Acer expert @yamadori will pop on and give you her expert opinion.

@Geneticsbunny You rang?!😂

Hi @Nourishinghandcream - it is fine. What you see there is probably caused by underwatering, yes. The leaves on those dissectum varieties do have more of a tendency to crisp up really quick at the edges. It is autumn and the tree is going to get rid of all those leaves very soon anyway, so no worries.

Having said that, it can be caused by waterlogging as well. You say you are on clay - you haven't by any chance basically dug a hole into solid clay and planted the tree into what is, effectively, a pond?

No need to feed it at all now until the spring, and Japanese maples don't need regular ericaceous feed anyway, they aren't that fussy. Once a year is enough, just to bring the pH in the soil down a fraction. You can achieve the same thing with an annual top-dressing of ericaceous compost. Ordinary fertiliser is ok the rest of the time.

Yamadori
That is great, thank you.👍

No, it is not sitting in a hole surrounded by clay but I completely understand what you are saying.
It is on top of clay but not surrounded by it (our garden has been built up quite a bit).