I wasn't there to see how things went when you planted. I only mentioned what my opinion was as to probable problem. My reasoning: Soggy soil doesn't kill plants inside of 2 days unless it's soo hot they nearly cook. It's doubtful that with new plantings, nearly devoid of roots, that they could have used all the moisture in the mix you described. so I discounted drying out as the probable cause. You said you added the 10-10-10 to the top layer of soil. My first thought, as soon as I read your post was that it was fertilizer related. I still believe that. In a half whiskey barrel, you could probably use 1/3 cup of 10-10-10 if it was fully incorporated in the soil & mixed thoroughly. I wouldn't have used it as a top dressing, which is essentially what you did, and if I had, I would have limited the application to no more than an ounce. The dead leaves & stems lying about the photo have a texture to them that I usually see in plants with fungal problems, or that are suffering severe plasmolysis (fertilizer burn). If the plants appeared healthy when you planted them, it's not fungal (in such a short time). Why is the hosta & impatiens flourishing? It's probably not fair to judge the condition of recent transplants, but it (hosta) isn't flourishing. Flourishing comes after it's established. I don't know all the conditions of your planting, but the plant(s) with shallower roots may have died because of greater exposure to fertilizer in top layer of soil. It's all just a guess based on reasoning & some experience. Perhaps additional details may hold the clues to confirming what I said or pointing you in another direction. Good luck. Al

My local farm store just got in a thing called a muck bucket cart. It's a metal cart with 2 large sturdy wheels and a platform the right size to carry a muck bucket (usually 17 gallons and wider than tall). I'm going to measure and see if my half plastic 55 gal drums will fit on the thing. If so, I will buy a couple of them and simply leave the planters on them full time, so that I can easily move the plants in and out of the garage, depending upon what the weather forecast calls for. There are a couple of months in the spring when the plants go out for sun and in to prevent freezing quite frequently. The carts were $49.95 and rated for up to 350 pounds. I can't move those half barrels by myself, and it would be very nice to be able to move them without waiting for help to arrive.

Gorgeous! Thanks for posting, I now have to add this to my project list since I just got some more and keep forgetting about them(cuz I have to "stash" them out of hubby's sight!) I am hoping I have enough to make another one for myself and one for my BFF. Here is where I put my last one...but now I wish I had added more bands...Plus I had added rebar to attach it to the 4x4 post it sits on. Here is a link that might be useful:

Oh well, I forgot to answer the question posed when you gave us that sweet list. Clear Fork River Valley....this is gorgeous and tough and stays bluegreen and even immature it is totally crinkled up. Lift it up to show it off. It will grow anywhere I believe. So Sweet....not just because BKay adores it, but because it is a feminine lovely hosta which also needs to be featured. You look at it and it appears delicate of form, which belies the fact she is like a STEEL MAGNOLIA....and I bet that is one of the reasons BK loves it so. That and she is a fragrant beauty. Lederhosen....don't think it will please you up high, since it is such a "green patent leather" and MELTED DOWN sort of hosta, even though it is a fragrant hosta with a blue matte leaf in early spring. Oh it does fine in a container, but there are better ones to FEATURE. Like maybe King Tut, a great gold. You need to feature at least ONE gold, right? :) Also, I do not think you should confine Winter Snow to a container, even one so big as a whiskey barrel. Put her somewhere she can dominate the area, and shine like a beacon when a stray sunbeam pierces the shade. I love this plant. S&S family, but a much lighter cooler yellow green with a creamy white margin, like a lime dream-sickle.