Japanese maple. The main problem is the huge trunk wound rather than the admittedly somewhat goofy looking branch cluster you are focused on. The tree also appears to be in the process of splitting apart at the main, narrow fork - frankly if it were mine I would have this now quite derelict looking specimen cut down and ground out, use the planting space for something else. Something that doesn't look just like it was pushed and driven over by a piece of equipment.

What Embo said; put that poor tree out of its misery.

What Embo said; put that poor tree out of its misery.

===>>> close lisa.. but i prefer.. put that tree out of your/my misery ... lol

frankly. .. this MI boy didnt know JMs could get that big...

if it falls down.. will it harm or destroy anything besides that fence??? .. an immediate decision on removal might be dictated by said potential ....

otherwise.. prune off anything you want.. safely of course .. whats the worse that could happen ... an old failing tree that fails ..???? .. and to be clear.. few trees die from pruning alone ...

be very safe if DIY ... remove small pieces.. working your way toward the trunk.. rather than trying to do it all in one cut ... falling and knocking you off the ladder.. etc ...

and if i had to pay a dude to come do it.. i would probably just pay to take it down ...

ken