It is late in the season, the leaves are not new, and the plants have
gone through a considerable shock.

If I were planting them, I'd have hand-watered them very well immediately
after planting, and followed up on subsequent days, unless they remained
wet. Those four days at 88 deg., with no additional water were likley
pretty stressful.

I wouldn't worry much if the leaves all dropped.
I'd be sure they do not dry out, and watch the canes, to be sure those
stay plump and flexible.

I don't know your climate, so I don't know how much time they have
to become established before you get cold weather.

Jeri

thank you Jeri for your help. I guess I am so afraid of overwatering the roses since we have clay soil here that is why I waited 4 days between watering. We will consistently have temps in 80's for another month . Should I water them daily?

AL

AL -- I don't know, at this stage.
I've never worked with clay soil.

I just know, when roses are newly planted, they need plenty of water, to deal
with the shock of planting.
I think you need LOCAL advice.

Jeri

I have clay soil and some of my plants are prepared like your's (hole with topsoil and compost mixed into it.) Soils surround by clay can cause a bathtub situation where water will just sit. But, a newly transplanted rose uses alot of water to recover from shock. I would check the soil each day to see if it needs water. I wouln't worry about the leaves falling off, because the plant got stressed. As long as the canes are healthy new leaves will grow back quickly. I planted a pink knockout that lost all of it's leaves, because I was gone a few days. They will grow back quickly. Knockouts are tough roses.
Ann

I think they will be fine just don't overwater.

Ditto len511. Every 4 days should be sufficient with clay, esp on drip. Don't give them any more fertilizer.

It's autumn and the growing season is coming to a close. I wouldn't have fertilized at all frankly, just amended the soil. You don't want to encourage a lot of new growth in October. Just be sure that there is plenty of water as advised above and given the cooler nights and shorter days, you probably won't dry out if you don't water every day.

In fact, clay soil can actually be pretty good for roses if it's amended well because it retains water so you don't have to water as often. I have clay soil and didn't water once this year. What you don't want to do is make a really clean break between the hole for the rose and the surrounding area, because that creates the bathtub effect described above. You want the roots to work through the soil, not wrap around themselves, so I never make a clean hole and always mix in as much native soil as I can. Keep adding compost to the garden and over the years the worms and creatures will drag it down into the soil, further breaking up the clay.

Anyhow, you have Knockouts and those are pretty tough. I don't think they'll have any problems at all.