Whoops weird growing acer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its hard to tell from the pics, but are the leaves on the leggy topgrowth bigger or different from the ones lower down? If they are, cut the stems out, back to wherever they're growing from, looks like reversion.

We had some do this at the nursery. They came in small and closer growing at the base like yours did then suddenly shot up. I would say its just new growth esp as they are purple and of same leaf shape and it probably just needs pruning to desired shape and for future training/growth

As Bamboo says pix aren't great but I would advise removing those two stems back to the point they are growing from.

Hi thanks to all who replied and to answer bamboo the leaves on the leggy topgrowth are the same as the bottom but are bit brighter like new growth and can i prune now or should i wait

many thanks

you have repotted what was a bit root bound and slightly stunted into what it realy needed . its gone yippee and exploded with life . just trim it back to level with the rest of the branches to get your shape back and keep the plant strong .i planted a 16 year old bonziad acer in the ground and you never seen an acer grow so quick as that did at least to start with .id say yhowever even though i had to trim it back its perhaps 6 times the hight it was as a bonzai in a few years .

Yes you can prune it back now, but you'll probably find it does it again, so just take them back to make a nice shape, as Nickyto8 suggests -his explanation is accurate, as you've said the leaves are the same.

i had to do my one about 4 times sunflower but it was from a bonzai as apposed to just being a bit root bound.

Thankyou to all who replied to my acer question, i will most certainly take on your advice and will have a go at pruning it back at the weekend, not sure were i am going to start, as pruning is not my best, but hey guess i got to have a go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many thanks again

cut the branches that are too long back to the closest branch or bud so the isnt a piece sticking out to die of .

Thankyou noseypotter will cut as you say,but i am a little confused most on this forum say dont prune till late sept / oct am i best waiting till then ??

yes or early spring realy.