Buds, as in flower or leaf buds? If these azaleas are supposed to bud, then leaf out then I'm going to wait. Think Magnolia or Forsythia. If they are supposed to leaf out and bloom simulataneasly I still might wait. But if they should leaf out and then bloom, well then they are cashed. SO do your azaleas leaf out then bloom??

Is the soil getting drier on one of the shrubs? You may need to water more or more often. Make sure you have 3-4" of mulch up tp to the drip line. Do you have any evidence that there are insect pests (not the ants) at work? Check the leaves' top and bottom. Check stems too. Also, some winter damage can show up as browning stems at times when the plant is stressed (say, during the summer months). Some pests also drill under the soil and can disturb the roots. The pest(s) may have caused more damage in one shrub so it becomes more obvious. Oakleafs are notorious for having root rot when exposed to wet soil for long periods of time. Drainage may be keeping one plant fine and the other not. It is too early for dormancy. That will happen when Fall's cooler temperatures arrive.

You always have to think root rot with oakleafs when you see wilting. I lost an Alice many years ago due to an El Nino Year in which we were pummeled with 2-3 rain storms per week, each delivering at least 1" of rain at a time. If it is root rot, damage from excessive watering probably occured during the last few months not just recently. I am guessing on that because you sound so certain that the shrubs have not been overwatered. Hard to estimate when a problem happened or started. So try to water when the soil starts to feel as if it is almost dry or when dry. That being said, I have a Pee-Wee which was turning from green to reddish/purplish colors one Fall too. The temperatures went down one day below freezing, but not much and not for long, Like yours, some of the red leaves wilted, dried out and.... that was it. The green leaves were not affected. They changed colors and eventually dried out later. No other visible damage happened then or by Spring. And it has not happened again. So, I hope that nothing will occur to your shrubs. Keep a vigilant eye on the shrubs' watering & soil moisture in case this is root rot. I suggest you be on the lookout for watering issues as soon as the temperatures in Aug-September go down and stay down. During that transition, plants sometimes get exposed to too much water because while temps go down, we do not tweak the sprinklers & drip systems to deliver less water rightaway. If you are extremely concerned, feel free to send leaves and soil for analysis at an agriculture extension service office. Luis

Well after those 3 eighty degree days, I noticed there are 2-3 pink flower buds on each plant. But these #3 plants have 75% of the stems bare...all three are the same. 25% of stems have a few leaves that are dark green with a tinge of brown. Maybe I'll give it till Tues, otherwise I'm pulling them out and taking em back. My only issue is that of the $3K I spent last year in landscaping this is the only FREAKING receipt I kind find! It was only the 3 azaelas, maybe I can bring the plants in and use a different receipt with a equal price since its @ Steins...not sure if they can tell the difference between a bare Azaela and a bare snowmound spirea.