Japanese willow, Salix integra, is really a shrub, of which the dappled or variegated cultivar 'Hakuro Nishiki' is the most popular form. If you have a tree-like plant, then it has been grafted on another willow rootstock. Any shoots coming from the base or along the trunk are from the rootstock and need to be removed. They will overtake and choke out the grafted portion in time if allowed to grow unchecked. You can and should remove them whenever you see them emerging.

Otherwise, the shrubby form (or the top portion of your grafted form) can be pruned to size in late winter/early spring as it begins to push buds.

it says to purn twice a year for best color ? when and do i take the real long branches off?