Also, your willow will grow to be at least as big as a small tree. So it is planted too close to the house.
When you transplant in the very early spring or the fall, it is typical for willows to protest, and parts (or maybe even all) of the above ground branches may die and turn black. But the plant is not dead. In 2-4 weeks (if planted in the spring) you will see new growth, most likely from the base of the plant.
