Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki'

hi Gaiashelly, i have a bush type of this plant and i believe you can prune quite hard, although if you want to make it into a tree type i would imagine you would do this the same way that you would any other shrub. wait until it grows a bit taller and then take off the bottom branches and shape the top accordingly - i have done this with an Acer tree that i have, and i have also made a 'lollypop' out of a Cenothus before now too, but it does take a few years to get there. unless it is already quite tall and has a fairly obvious main stem, it is best to do this little by little each year. Salix integra is quite cheep to buy as a tree why not just get one ready done?

I would also add that acers can bleed quite badly when pruned so ideally so only be done when dormant

Is a standard that you had in mind when you say 'tree-formed'? The ones you see done as quarter-standards are grafted onto a stem - and not always done very well, either! People cut them back quite hard about now, or they can get very untidy - looking. You can also buy them as a bush, as majeeka said. Again, cut back now before it starts sprouting new leaves.

yes i did cut back in early spring last year when it was still dormant - but i did'nt know that they bled, i had read that Acer should only be cut during the dormant stage, so it was a spot of luck really, have'nt had too many problems with it, apart from a bit of wind burn last autumn, but i think i have now corrected that problem - it now has the greenhouse behind it and the rose arch to the side, what with the fence the other side i don't think it could be more protected lol.