Hi lesismorr...

Though I don't know a thing about ninebark, nor all the particulars of the area in which you live, if it were my plant I'd make a temporary shade/wind protection for it to help moderate transplant shock. Three posts hammered in the ground and wrapped with the burlap. Make sure it is tall enough and making sure the burlap faced so that it will block the strongest sun and wind. Span the top of the posts with the burlap for extra protection. Some plants just need a little help with heat/wind/sun/altitude combination for awhile.

Crystal

I had this problem with my 9 bark last year, and it looked very sad and pathetic. I increased water amount and frequency for this plant it and recovered last year. This year, I've treated it the same as the surrounding plants, and it looks good and healthy. It's been planted almost 3 years now, so perhaps it just takes time to get the roots established and to grow deep.

I recommend you increase the amount of water and frequency of watering until the plant returns to healthy. You are watering very early in the morning and late at night, right? For example, I water only every 3 days, but the days I water, I water twice that day - at 5 a.m. until the cycles are through, and then at 11 p.m. until the cycles are through. This way, the plants and lawn are being watered less often, but they're being watered deeply.