Acer orange dream

autumnglory

Last year I transplanted my acer orange dream from a pot to a new border. Since then the better soil has resulted in lots of whippy new growth with much longer stems than before.

Whilst in the pot it was bushy and compact and the new stems are somewhat spoiling the shape. I'm unsure whether I should prune these out or leave it to do its own thing. If I prune them out are they likely to come back anyway? What does everyone think? 

Fairygirl

I wouldn't trim them just now as it's growing. Wait until autumn/winter. However, you may find lots of other stems will now grow because they have better conditions to do so.

It's the way things happen - they'll grow much more vigorously in the ground compared to a pot. 

autumnglory

Thank you! That's what I was thinking, if it's happier where it is now there's no point pruning out vigorous growth for it to grow the same again.

Hopefully the other branches will start to catch up and make it look a bit less odd! 

Fairygirl

Give it time 

Pete.8

They're best left to get on with it as that will produce the typical acer shape and growth habit.
As @Fairygirl mentions, only prune in the dead of winter as they bleed from pruning most of the time unless they are completely dormant (which doesn't really happen at all anymore in this part of the country).
I noticed a passing group of children a few weeks ago snapped a branch on one of mine as he passed by.... The wound was dripping for about 6 weeks and left a stalagmite of sap on the low wall in my front garden. I know from previous experience that the leaves on that part of the tree will be much smaller this year due to the damage caused.