Q: My weeping willow tree is about a year old. It has branches growing up and down the trunk. Do I prune all of the branches except for the crown?

Thanks so much for any help.
Cindy

A: Generally, it is best to remove the watersprouts from the trunk of a tree. These are just adventitious growths, and do not add to the tree's health (or appearance, either).

I recommend removing them right up to the lowest "scaffold" (main) branches.

And, since willows are proficient at producing these sprouts from the main branches, I would keep after them, too, and remove the sprouts before they get too big and start trying to become branches themselves.