Back on the Rose of Sharon topic... They are widening the road just 1/4 mile from my home. (In western North Carolina) Many Homes were bought along the roadside to be torn down to make way for the wider road. Several homes have trees and shrubs and this (summer) July, it has been a free for all! Everyone and grandmas have been going through the yards of the homes torn down and cleaning out all plants, shrubs, and trees. I personally found a home with over 11 rose of Sharon trees/bushes. Each at approx 6 feet or more in height. Now, I have so far managed to transplant only 2. The two were in very difficult soil conditions. The soil at this place is hard as nails and full of quarts stone. The only way to remove from these areas of poor digging conditions we found was to use tow straps, wrap the base with slick plastic so as not to damage cambium layer And pull out with my truck, gently. Successfully and hard to believe but we got 95% of the root ball including the tap without the strap sliding up the trunk and stripping off the bark or cambium layers. We Planted just yesterday with a mere 1/4 mile to my home it was a fast transplant. The only time roots were exposed was the time it took to dig. We covered the ball during transport. We dug the hole deep and wide. Obviously we planted as deep as it was originally. But to allow the roots ease of expansion we made lose of soil all around the ball. Far wider than existing. Now in nearly Perfect soil conditions especially in comparison to its original. I'm looking at it this morning and I have not seen any wilt so far (fingers crossed). However it is July. So I will post back very soon on its progress. Because it was literally around the corner from its original home and was only out of ground about 25-35 minutes while we dug we may have succeeded. I will inform more once and if it survives.

answered you in the Trees forum.

Hmm I mean transplant shock can differ as far as how long it lasts etc. I'd keep it well watered..maybe add the root hormone to the water. I wouldn't fertilize just yet? If it needs to make roots, idk if that would be too much for it or if you do fertilize use something that has a really low number for the first number maybe? You could prune them some, nothing too severe but maybe a few canes to force it to want to 'grow' perhaps. Whatever you do I'd keep it well watered for a while, adding in the root hormone to help it along. And leave it alone, allow it time to recover esp where it wasn't really taken care of when it was yanked out and afterwards. Let it stay for this season and see what happens next spring.

what's done is done, and if there is a plant that is going to survive the treatment you have described, it's rose of Sharon. water, and in watering, don't assume that just because you watered it (however many) days ago, it should be good, or that because we got rain, or anything else. Get your fingers dirty and feel. I have a different line of thought than what is often espoused here, and I base it on personal experience. I'd use the root stim stuff. I've planted with and without using it, and the differences are not generally astounding. Of the various brands I've tried, I'd rate the miracle gro at the bottom, but that's me. Or try your own experiment. You have it, so it costs you nothing but the opportunity to learn. Do some with it, do some without. Then draw your own conclusions, and rely neither upon snake oil salesmen or strangers from the internet.