Pruning back a corkscrew willow

[prr]

OK Ron has recommended that I prune back the thin branches of my corkscrew willow. I can do that, but I have a couple of questions.

In case anyone needs to see, here are 4 pics:


http://paulrittman.com/corkscrew1.JPG

http://paulrittman.com/corkscrew2.JPG

http://paulrittman.com/corkscrew3.JPG

http://paulrittman.com/corkscrew4.JPG


My questions:
1. There are some branches that have new green buds and growth, but the top/end of the branch is brown, with nothing green beyond the brown point. Should I cut those back now, or wait till the end of the growing season? If they will grow back and turn green, I'd rather let them stay on the tree. The tree itself is definitely on the road to recovery, with an impressive amount of small green buds, so there isn't any danger (IMO) of it dying or anything like that.

2. Since the tree has just been planted (it was in a pot, for who knows how long, I planted it about 30 June more or less), should I wait to coppice the thinner trunks, or do it now?

I don't know if those pics will help out or not. I can take more, that focus on the brown ends if needed.

 

[RonsGarden]

1/You can remove all the dead stems back to healthy growth.
2/Think it would be best to leave them alone for this year since we is now into July, next spring just as the buds start to develop you can remove the thinner stems, cut them at the base. You can stick them in water, and they will root in a few weeks....then you can pot them up.

 

[prr]

Sounds like a plan. The trees really are cute. I'll root them and see if someone wants one (or if we want to plant a second willow).