You might be OK, this is normal what they do this time of the year, it's best to do it in spring when still dormant. Just let them be and see what comes next spring, don't over water,...moist is fine.

greginnd,sounds like they really got some good transplant shock.Normally it is best to move things when they are still dormant in the spring or fall.It is pretty late in the season for them to come back if they would.Make sure the soil has moisture and do a bark scratch test later on in the fall.If the bark is still green underneath they just might come back next spring but I would probably plan on digging more suckers in the fall after leaf drop.

Glenn

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice.

Some of the suckers came from a friend and they needed to dig them out now. Some of my suckers I wanted to move right away to avoid potential contamination with black knot. I'm hoping they are ok. Not the ideal time, but we'll see if they take.

I don't think I can water too much this year. The drought has made the soil a huge sinkhole for water. I can pour gallons on it and it disappears.

So far the bark is alive and I have one tree which still has a few live leaves. The good think about chokecherries is that there are usually plenty more where they came from.