Question
I just transplanted two chindo viburnums, 2 years old, about 6 feet high, 3 feet wide, into my yard (three days ago). They are wilting, even though I am watering them. I believe they must be in shock. I live in Virginia, so the early Spring weather is neither hot or cold yet. Is this normal? Should I keep watering them daily, or only every few days? Is the wilting from the roots not getting enough water? How long does the shock last, if indeed it is shock? Is there anything else I can do to improve the success of the transplant? Thanks you.

Answer
Hi Christine,

It does sound like your plants may be in shock.  It sounds like they were large plants (6 ft tall), so it may take them a while to recover.  If you want to know if they are getting enough water, you should dig with your fingers an inch or more into the soil.  If it feels dry, then there is not enough moisture.  If the soil is slightly damp to the touch, the plants should be fine.  It is very difficult for large plants to handle being transplanted, so I am not surprised that the plants are having trouble.  Continue to water as needed and consider providing fertilizer when the plant appears to be putting on a little new growth.  Hopefully, you will see improvement soon.  However, given the plant size, I would expect to see some foliar loss.