Sometimes they are a tad slow. Don't give up hope yet. I planted mine even later than you did and am just today seeing little buds on some. I usually leave mine in and wait. Sometimes I flex a branch, if it snaps then it is dead, but if you feel it move and bend and isn't brittle, then at least that branch lives. You can also scrape to see if you have greenwood, but frankly I'd just wait.

How are they doing now? Mine have leafed out....

Well, it appears they are not entirely dead, but they are pretty scrawny. I'm not sure if I damaged them, or if they weren't well established before winter and had a lot of winter kill, or if they usually have a bit of winter kill normally. Anyway, I just snipped off all the truly dead wood, which was probably about 1/2 to 2/3 of the plant, and just left the branches that had some new growth (tiny green leaves). They look a little better without all the dead brown branches, but still under the weather. The foliage right now is very meager, just teeny-tiny little green leaves. I normally don't water at all in the spring because it's pretty damp here April - June near Cleveland. We get regular rain, and some heavy rains. I'm not sure if there is something I could do to help revive my poor shrubs. I'm considering getting either some food/fertilizer or compost to work in around them, but I'm not sure if they are beyond saving. I was hoping I could salvage them rather than have to dig them out and start over. If anyone has some suggestions, I am open to anything.
Thanks,
Sherri

hi sherri, they are a little slow, but will benefit from a hard prune. they also like a top dressing of compost. if that doesn't do it go ahead with a little fertilizer. prune right away. hope this helps.

Thanks, I already pruned on Saturday, and then went out to the nursery and they suggested I remove some soil from near the stem thinking I may have planted them too deep. There seems to be a lot of thin, spidery roots near the surface though - didn't seem like they were planted all that deep. They also told me to water them regularly and use some Plant Tone. They think maybe I didn't water enough last year because I was told they were "drought resistant" but not that they are only "drought resistent" after they are well established. I watered for the first couple weeks regularly, but then they only got water when I watered the lawn - I didn't concentrate on them. Hopefully they will perk up soon. Thanks for the help.

Sherri

Sherri, if you have little roots, don't leave them uncovered. IMHE, once they have been pruned and have another year under their belt, then they'll perk up. I don't know about Cleveland, but this was a hard year for newly planted plants. The lack of snow cover and the rapidly rising and falling temperatures were awful on the poor babies. I have a "Mango tango" which isn't looking too hot, but on the other hand, the other one planted the same time and about 10 feet away from it is doing great. Never give up until their toes curl up. :)

Thanks. I gave them a little food (Plantone), a light dressing of Sweet Peet compost mulch, and I've been watering them every other day or so unless it rains good. They've leafed out a little more, still with very small leaves. They are still small and puny looking (smaller than when I bought them!) but they look alive. I doubt I can expect them to flower this year, but hopefully they will establish themselves and look a little better next year.