I have a willow just like that, and planted another one at another property I used to own. It was obvious that both of mine were growing toward light, and although they don't appear to have overhead shade, they are shaded to one side by a much larger tree and it blocks the sun on some branches during parts of the day. Are you sure you aren't having that situation?

kings_rose Believe me that it wouldn't be that beautiful for much longer if you kept it indoors. Some plants really shouldn't be overwintered indoors, and willow is one of them. Hardy plants like that actually need cold period and Al (and others) pointed that out. It may live, but would be very much weakened and may not last that long outdoors after that. I think you did right by moving it outside, and as long as you don't let it dry out completely while in the garage, it has much better chance of survival. Rina

Those are burls and can be very common with willows. Burls are a type of growth where the wood grain forms in a deformed manner and typically show as a rounded, knobby growth on the trunk or limbs. Causes are varied but they are not generally know to cause damage to the tree they appear on. Large burls tend to be very sought after by woodworkers for the stunning patterns they exhibit. Just an FYI but willows are known to be prone to a whole slew of disease and insect problems as well as weak wood that can cause limb drop or splitting. The decline you are seeing could be a reflection of one or more of those problem as well as just a sign of old age.

Not a large weeping willow at all, it is genetically programmed to grow vastly larger than it is now. And since the main point of it is the long trailing branches having a bunch going on beneath it that will conflict physically and visually with these hanging streamers it would in fact be best to remove all the stuff you have in there now and grass the whole bed over. At least until the tree is much taller with a much more elevated crown. Right now it is still too low and small to be in a bed full of other objects. Especially that one upright growing shrub that sticks way up into the crown of the willow, producing a visual conflict of movement (branches of willow pointing down, branches of shrub pointing up) as well as an actual physical conflict where the growth of the two plants is colliding.