Can anyone help with this tree issue

Hi,
Looking for some advice we have had this lovely tree in our garden since we moved here ten years ago and it’s always thrived. This year however it’s not bloomed and has stayed brown we have recently noticed growths coming from the trunk that are not part of the tree. My husband has chopped them off, unsure if we should have or not. Sorry I’m very beginner gardener have taken pics and hope someone can advise on how to help our poor tree. Thanks in advance for any help offered.

 

Never liked Kilmarnock willows .

They do tend to get quite a lot of dead branches on top but looks like its on the way out or the graft ( fat stubby bit near top ) is failing / failed. The trunk bit is ordinary willow ( trailing willow is stuck onto a ordinary willow ) its not trail like the top but grow straight up you don't really want them it will grow into a full size tree if left.

I'd personally remove it but if you do want to try and save it I'd trim all the branches back to the graft point and pray it returns and grows back into a nice shape , the dead wood will never grow again .

 

I still dont and never will, I dont see the attraction.

 

Ohhh that's a bit unkind, after all, the OP likes it! The good news is that the bits that were chopped off are just the rootstock/trunk suckering. Those stumps need to be levelled to be almost flush with the trunk. The bad news is that they'll more than likely reoccur so you'll have to pinch them off constantly while they're young. The top tree tie looks as though it could do with being loosened. It's even possible that it's strangling the top graft which is why the weeping bit is sick. Next, cut out all the truly dead wood from the top. If it's still flexible and green underneath the bark when scratched with a fingernail, leave it. Feed and water it and see what happens...

 

Sorry I was a bit harsh.
Unlike me I know.