Willows can provide much needed winter interest with colourful stems but as this is only on young (current season's) growth, a hard pruning regime is necessary to maintain the colour and stop the plants becoming too big for the garden.
I was working at the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley, Surrey doing my tutoring role for the Master of Horticulture and whilst walking in the gardens, I saw these willows that hard received the hard pruning necessary to provide winter interest. You may be surprised at the apparent savagery but willows are very forgiving. If you need more plants, insert the prunings (making sure that they are the right way up) into some moist soil and they will root and grow into new plants. Alternatively a basket maker will certainly take away your prunings, I suggest swapping them for something as they are valuable.
If you are a timid pruner, I suggest pruning coloured bark willows when you are in a very bad mood!
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