I have a NOID laceleaf that came that came from Orchard Supply here in San Jose about 10 years ago. It stayed small until about 3 years ago, because it was in a 2-3 gallon pot, and 2011 I put it in a half wine barrel. It's been quite happy since then and grown quite a bit. What had been a leaf canopy that went out about 18" at most, and stayed mostly horizontal, is now 4 feet across, and REALLY WEEPING. Weeping past the top of the barrel, like a really droopy umbrella. Is there a way to somewhat raise the branches that are so droopy. Not a speedy way, and I don't expect to totally alter its characteristics, but I'd really like to get the branches to go out more than down. Can I try to gingerly train them with some heavy wire? Like, over 2-3 years or so? The branches that curved so badly are around 1/2" thick. Oh, and the graft looks like it's about 2" below the 'crook' of the branches, so JUST before they branch off the trunk. Not down low.

This is what it looked like 3 years ago. Looks small but beautiful!

Now, it's not just weeping, it's cascading. The tips of the branches are now even with the BOTTOM of the barrel! I'm pretty sure it's only going to get more so without intervention... Which I'm willing to try, with advice from Not Me!

Thank you for any advice you can give me with this....