It's not always necessary to trim or loosen the roots of pot grown shrubs but if the roots are entwined and looping around the sides of the root ball, then it's best to cut or gently loosen them to allow them to expand outside the shape they've taken. It's more likely that you've got some other problem that caused the quick demise of the plants. Lack of water or over watering are the two most common causes of rapid plant death. Newly planted material requires about 1" of water a week and it must soak down to the root zone to be effective. Too much water can kill just as quickly as too little. It prevents air circulation from the roots which essentially drowns the plant. So if the plants were healthy when you put them out, look to the soil moisture content first. Did you dig large holes for them or just the size of the root ball? What's your native soil like? Sandy, hard packed clay, rocky, decent loam? Did you amend the soil with anything or add any fertilizer? Since some of your plants are already stressed, I wouldn't dig them up unless you remember them being badly root bound. Where did you buy them? A "big-box" hardware store or a reputable nursery? Wherever you got them, check to see if they have a warranty on their plants. Some places will replace the plants if they die within a year. Some won't. If you think the water situation was ok, take samples of the stressed plants to your local cooperative extension office to see if they can diagnose the problems. If there's some disease or insect infestation, they will probably be able to help you and their services are free. Lastly, did you have that nice mild winter and then a nasty cold snap? That can stress the plants and kill new growth that hasn't had time to harden off. Are the branches totally dead or is there still some green if you scratch off a little bark? If there's still a green layer under the bark, they probably will survive. Good luck with your landscape problems. I know how frustrating it can be to have beautiful plantings that die. Been there and done that myself.

Don't panic, patients is a virtue in gardening. Just make sure to keep everything moist enough (but not waterlogged) in the heat. You can always add organic matter on top of your soil as a mulch that will slowly break down and feed the soil microbes. Aged compost and worm castings are always safe to add and won't burn your plants. I like to fertilize using things like used coffee grounds or other seed meals since they are slow release fertilizers. If I have some greedy plants that like lots of nitrogen and phosphorus, I give them a small hand full of alfalfa pellets. Be careful with the blood meal as it is really strong and a little goes a very long way. Enjoy.

Thanks so much, paintguy! I think my problem may have been that after I cut in with a brush, I painted most of the ceiling with a 1" nap roller on an extension pole. ( I did get the good Purdy one.) I will say it got heavy fast, so I probably applied different pressures. Then I'd go to the ladder and shorter poles. And then, then next day to finish I used a 3/4" roller, and for touch-ups I'd grab a brush. As far as the paint not sticking by the crown, I suspect the old caulk may have been silicone? Glad to hear I don't need scaffolding! And I would call in a pro, but I thought this would be an easy enough job that I could tackle myself, and save the pros for actual construction stuff. I guess a pro would have finished long, long before I ever will, tho! So...maybe different applicators and different pressures are the problem? Sometimes in certain light it almost looks like I used different sheens, but it's all the SW ceiling paint, Wool Skein. I think I'll call this the first coat, and go over it all again with the same roller nap! Again, thanks so much!

Jellytoast -- agreed. The bifold doors are being replaced with actual doors sometime in the next few weeks so I didn't bother painting the bifolds. Originally, the wall color, the trim color and the cabinets were all very close in color, they almost blended together. Not sure what the designer was thinking. Jurand05 -- also agreed. The former trim color (same as the bifolds) was dingy looking to my eye, has a yellowish cast and always looked like it need cleaning or something. The white makes the grey wall really pop (it's BM Pashmina) and it brightens up the whole house. Carrying on! Thanks everyone.