Acer Rubrum 'Flame'

I ordered this from England last year. it came as quite a small tree this time last year. I re potted it and boy did it grow this year. It is now 5 feet approx. Beautiful big leaves which have turned the most amazing red and are still fully on the tree. A really good buy. Anyway when it was sent to me the leader had been cut off. Now I know Rubrums are often grown as multi stemmed trees but I am not sure how to go about this re - maintenance and am undecided as to whether to train a new leader or leave it. Any suggestion and or help would be greatly appreciated. I need to get it in the ground this winter as it is going to outgrow the enormous pot I have it in.

 

If you have space then leave it, I would never normaly prune an acer IMO they are best planted with space and left as nature intended.

 

I agree with Paul here, granny, leave it to it`s own devices. Trees usually send up a new leader eventually.:thmb:

 

I would be inclined to stake the longest branch to train it as a new leader

 

Thank you all for your advice. I have left it more because I hated the idea of cutting off the lovely leaves on the branches. Oh by the way I got the name wrong. It's Acer Rubrum 'Red King'