Leggy Japanese Maple - need pruning?

Hi all
I've been growing this lovely little maple for a couple of years now, but for some reason this year, the main shoot has decided to have a major growth spurt upwards - unsure if perhaps I fed it with some Miracle Gro accidentally or something else has caused it.

It looks faintly silly to me, but being the main shoot (I think) I'm wary of pruning it - any suggestions how to manage it better? It's only in a 12 inch pot currently as I'm trying to keep it as small as possible, but maybe I should repot it to give it some more width as well?

I've rarely had much luck with Acers in containers so really trying to ensure this one keeps going.

 

Hi delta

I wouldn't cut it yet as it will bleed, I would wait till it's dormant in January or February then trim to shape.. I find that acers do better if there alittle pot bound anyway. I feed mine once a year in spring with chicken pellets that's it.

 

Sorry for late reply - thanks for that suggestion - it'll suit me to leave it indeed - just don't want it continuing upwards more than outwards.

 

Just coming back to you on this point - this plant is heavily rooted out the bottom of the pot it's in - when it comes to repotting is it ok to just cut all those longer roots off or better to try & conserve them? I know when it comes to bonsai roots are cut to keep the plant smaller which would be no bad thing for this one possibly but don't want to do any unnecessary damage.

 

I'd keep them on if your repotting into a larger pot