I'd dig it up and try to transplant it - might not work, but it can't be left as it is, poor thing. The only problem is if you cut it back now, it'll bleed like billyo, which means it will remain a ghastly shape all summer, so alternatively, you could leave it till September, then dig it up, reduce the top to a better shape and put in a more suitable spot.

I knew you would come up with the answer , thank you so much , i hate throwing stuff away .

Personally, I'd wait until it was dormant before trying to move it. And as Bamboo says, don't even THINK about pruning it while it's in growth

Gawd no do not prune until dormant or it will bleed for ages.

Many thanks , have made a note to move this when dormant and there was me thinking i was going to get this garden done this year lol

Ah, but, a garden is never finished............ :0)
And therein lies the joy!

Obijway93 mine doesn't look like it's been started let alone finished ha ha

The only time a garden is ever 'finished' is when the gardener dies... and then another gardener comes along at starts all over again. Who ever takes on Bulba's and my garden better like raised beds, rockeries and no grass or they've got a real challenge ahead of them.

I had a three year old Acer in a pot, gone all leggy. Took it out while in tight bud. Pruned the roots, pruned it right back and put it in a Bonzai pot, quite a deep one, not a starter. It has gone mad and put out lots of new shoots and lovely leaves. Yesterday I nipped off one shoot and waited. Then another, after a while another. They are all sealed this morning. Success so far, but early days. Looks like you can do anything you like with it at the right moment, as advised. Plus plenty of TLC afterwards. I will put a picture in my photos to show how well it's doing at the moment.

Dorjac when did you do this please?

Dorjac is an expert at Bonsai if you aren't best learn how to from a local group first.

Hi Teddy girl. I did this when the Acer Palmatum was in bud, but dormant, perhaps 5 weeks ago. I am amazed myself at the way it has grown since, as though it didn't notice a thing. Just to illustrate, if you choose the right moment, a young tree will recover well. I put a photo up to show how this tree has grown since its roots and long straggly shoots were cut back drastically.

Acers respond well to pruning, If done correctly.

You will get a thicker more bushy small tree. They can get very leggy if not pruned.
Small twigs can be pruned now, without any problems.

my bonzei growing friend takes all the leaves of his acer and other trees and this makes it grow smaller leaves the second time . hes even bonzeid chives lol .anything is possible its just timing .

personaly id move it just before plants come out of doremancy next year but everyone to there own .your acer will look a lot better when the leaves have come right out but i would move it .ive made a cherry tree into a climber bye training it . works a treat thjow i dont get any fruit .

Thanks Noseypotter

your more than welcome xx .

couple more options, if your able to dig it up now with as large a rootball as possible then transplanting is possible. (its a brave move btw ) The plant doesnt look too big so it might be possible. However, water the plant really well 2 or 3 days in advance of moving & make sure you give plenty of water throughout the comeing seasons. I have moved countless advanced plants like this in the middle of summer successfully but the watering is paramount if you do this.
Secondly & this is your safest option, carefully remove the top 10 cm of soil ( watch for roots) & replace with fresh good quality ericacious compost & most importantly start a 'feeding' program. Seaweed & or sequestrine feed is perfect for these trees. This will 'heart-up' & strengthen your plant then move it around November when completely dorment. Acers prefer some shade from burning sun so this might be a consideration when re-locating.
Regards its shape, if you dont want to prune & retain its present height you can simple open up & spread those top two branches apart that have crossed each other with a simple thin bamboo or green garden cane & some soft twine/string etc. I have re-shaped most of my reject acers like this.
Good luck.

Bampy
i think i will leave it until November then buy a nice pot for it, what size pot would you recommend? can i feed it the sequestrene now as it has Aquilega around it.
Many thanks for your help x

as big a pot as possible as your acer will get potentialy quit big .

I think you will find unless you are going to go the bonsai route the roots will be too big for any pot. Why not follow Bampies advice?

Moon-Grower i never thought of the roots!! i will move it in November then as i'm too scared to do it now!!

hi Teddygirl - good! This is not the time to move anything!

yep, agreed, safe rather than sorry ! & any feed is fine at the recommended strength, the aquas will love it also.

ditto