"Jack" wrote in message
...
Sorry, I should have been clearer -- I cut back the branches only, not the
trunk itself. I left about 12 inches of branches, so it's not quite a
knob
on a stick (oooerr!!) Branches had sprung out all over the place,
untidy-like, and were shaped like the spokes of an umbrella -- almost took
my eye out every time I passed by. So I cut off the sticking-out
branches,
to leave just the graceful weepy branches. Whether the branches will once
again shoot off into umbrella spokes, I don't know. If they do, I think
I'll just get rid of the tree as it's more trouble than it's worth -- it's
usually full of greenflies, mildew and rust and it doesn't even give me
catkins. I might plant a grafted cherry or cotoneaster in its place. I
just need a bit of height to fill a small raised corner.


I too had one of these in my small garden. During the summer it looked like
a 'bad hair day' so I moved it to grounds of the school I work where it has
much more room.. It is now in bud. I've decided that if continues to look
messy I might plait the branches to keep it in order ;-)

My suggestion to you is just remove any branches that offend.

Regards
Natalie