are all the suckers attached to the trunk, perhaps from below ground ... and all green.. if so.. they must be removed ... you will need to learn how to prune this thing... to keep it in some form which you will prefer ... just removing dead stuff.. at height.. is not going to be good.. in the long run ... you have to have a vision ... and so some proactive pruning for the future ... to keep a will in check.. you will have to learn about rejuvenation pruning ... and then about growing a shrub on a standard [in a tree form].. combine said knowledge.. and then act accordingly ... without physically being.. there.. and being able to stick me head into the plant.. and see whats there.. i have no clue how to advise you here .. see link... flip to web side for name there is a woman in the area... and hers are magnificent ... and she cuts them back to near sticks every early spring ... i swear she is going to kill them every year ... and every year.. they are sublime ... just keep in mind.. its a willow ... it is extremely aggressive ... and you probably cant kill it thru pruning if you tried ... but for those green ones at the bottom.. if they are green.. it indicates the plant was grafted to a standard .... and you have some limitations as to how far you can cut back ... at the link... find the latin name.. and add to it.. PRUNING ... and then search and learn ... read up... and ask us to clarify anything that might need such .... welcome to GW .... good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

the seed are called gumballs ... and when the tree ages enough.. to start dropping them.. you will not be able to walk barefoot in your yard ... glorious PARK trees.. you better think long and hard about whether your yard is big enough ... also.. known for surface roots ... and suckers.. if you cut a root ... now.. if you just gotta have one.. check out the link ... who cares about all the other problems.. lol apparently i am a bit bipolar on my opinion of these trees.. lol ... oh.. and i forgot to mention.. the heavenly.. aroma of a crushed leaf. but it is very ephemeral.. lasting only seconds ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: pay real money for a variegated one ...

there are all kinds of variations on the theme ... its the thin leaves that are easy to set you on the right track ... and of course.. it standing next to water ... just btw.. they are not good backyard trees .. so just kill that dream .. if thats where you are thinking of going ... ken

I've not had any problems with the spikes injuring any of our dogs (past and present), but they sure can mess up Hosta leaves when they fall (for whatever reason). We got rid of most of our poplar trees due to their size, but kept 3 or 4 in the very back of our lot. They did less damage than the marauding deer the last two years though. GRRR! Four less poplars, two maples, two beeches, and a big sour wood.