Question
I live in northern Indiana, soil is very clay. I planted a weeping cherry (about 4' tall, from a local stoare - $60). It looked beautiful and healthy. I dug out all the clay, made an extra big hole, planted it and used very good soil, etc. I can't believe the leaves have turned brown and it is dieing just 3 weeks later. Could it be that the water just sat in the soil and rotted the plant since the soil all around the hole was clay? Or was it just probably a bad plant even though it looked good? I will get my $ back but hate to plant another tree if it just can't make it in that spot - of course it is in the front landscaping. If you think a weeping cherry is too tempermental, can you suggest another tree that might have that form? I have been gardening for 40 years and have never had anything like this happen before.  Thanks for any help you can give.
Elaine.

Answer
Sounds like you did everything correct planting the tree and it may just be going through a shock from the process. Start at the top and scrape a small bit of bark off the twig and if the color under the bark is green the tree is still alive at that point of the twig. If it is green if you have not done so mulch around the tree and only water about every third day. If the color is brown (not green) then the tree is dead at this point of the branch--contintue down the branch until you find green. Prune the dead off. If it is dead get you money back and replant next season. The sopt should be ok.