If they are hardened off and as long as the ground can be worked, you can usually plant. The concern is if you have greenhouse grown shrubs that have come out of dormancy and leafed out during a period when you can still get frosts and in that case, you might need to wait until after your last frost date, harden them off, and plant.

What did you buy? I know the feeling about getting new things planted!

Shrubs will establish best in the cool, wet weather of spring. Frost has no meaning for them unless, as the previous poster mentioned, they have not been hardened off or have been shipped from a more southern zone and the leaves are way ahead of where they would be if they had been growing in your zone. I still would put them out and protect them if you have frost.

As for perennials, I (zone 5b) start dividing them in late April and through March as soon as I can see them. If they're up, they're ready for it.

Jenny_in_se_pa: I bought black beauty elderberry, Teller Red hydrangea, Manhattan Euonymus, Goldmound spirea, dwarf purple Nandina, and Nandina Domesticata. The last one I bought in Wichita at Lowes and I live in north Kansas so I'm not sure it will live here, but guess I'll try it. I think the hydrangea is way ahead of where it should be so I'll have to be careful with it. Thanks for all the good advice.

grspirit - nice list! In the past, I have either transplanted or planted similar at this time of year or sometimes earlier (especially the fruiting shrubs)... Although with respect to the hydrangea, they are often sold too far along with respect to leafing.

Your state has had some well-above normal temps for some time and it appears that pattern may continue for the forseeable future. So you may be in the clear. Wish you luck with your new "babies"!