Bare root shrubs not showing signs of life, how long do I wait?

Question

I purchased some bare root shrubs for foundation plantings this spring.  They've been in the ground three weeks and aren't showing signs of life (no leaves, no buds, just stems).

The plants are mock orange, they had good roots when planted.  The soil was amended prior to planting and they went into the ground the day they arrived, and they have been watered regularly (after the top 2-3 inches of soil has dried out).

I feel I did everything I was supposed to...but the plants have failed to thrive.

Do you think they are dead....or am I just impatient??

ktrb · Accepted Answer

Try snapping a few little twigs on each shrub..  If they're brittle and break easily, the shrubs are dead.  If you find a few that bend, though, the plant is still alive and might still come back.

Bare root shrubs not showing signs of life, how long do I wait?

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