What is our tree?

We have a mystery tree in our front garden and want to do something with it.

It is about 4 ft tall. It had drooping thick wooded branches when we moved in, which grew a medium-thick thin-leaved (I think) foliage last summer.

However, what's baffling us now is that all the new shoots are growing straight up, so it looks a complete mess.

Can anyone help identify it? Should I cut back the new shoots?

Sounds like a weeping goat willow (Salix caprea "Pendula") which is a grafted tree.
See the first pic here for our native variety.... [broken link removed]

Upright shoots will be from the lower part of the graft, these should be removed as they will eventually swamp the weeping section of the tree.

Thanks Irishgarden,

Just to pick your brains further - the weeping branches appear to be dead. If we cut off all the upright branches, we'll be left with just dead wood. Is this ok?

sun_sparks said:

Thanks Irishgarden,

Just to pick your brains further - the weeping branches appear to be dead. If we cut off all the upright branches, we'll be left with just dead wood. Is this ok?

Click to expand...

The upright shoots must be removed unless you would like a tree at least 6mtrs x 6mtrs to take over you front garden.
It is possible that what you think is all dead wood, may not be.
Try cutting back the dead branches until you reach fresh looking sections.
Follow this by feeding the tree with a nitrogen rich fertiliser and keep the tree watered.

Of course it may also be possible that the decorative weeping graft has totally succumbed to the much more vigorous lower section, requiring you to remove the tree altogether.