it would really help to know what plants ....

in spring in zone 5 .. there is enough water or lack of evaporation with the cool soil and random rain .. so back off ... you were correct to water thouroughly at planting ...

water when the soil feels dry when you insert your finger 3 inches or so ...

get rid of rotting green grass .... invest in a bag of good mulch ... maybe pine mini chunks ... or something ...

next time... soak for no more than a few minutes .. until the soil is drenched ... no need for hours ... unless they are water plants ....

once the heat of summer hits.. and the mulch is properly applied.. you might have to water more often ... based on what your finger tells you ...

good luck
ken

Most places prefer to ship dormant plants especially when shipping into a colder zone. In zone 5 you can still experience frost so if they send a plant which is all flushed out with tender new growth and then plant it out the frost does a lot of damage to it. As Ken said, don't over water as the evaporation is a lot less at this time of year then in the middle of summer.

Hi thank you both for answering.
First, I have a Hummingbird Vine and the other is a Wisteria.
I was bummed because the seller mentioned they are ready to go into the ground! So I thought, YEAH! I have never had luck with dormant plants.
I had soaked them overnight (in a cup), as I have done with all of the dormant plants, because there is always a little instruction sheet that recommends that I do so. So maybe that is where I am going in the wrong direction.
So sorry, I was a little misleading, once they were planted I just watered enough for them to be wet.
I had also thought of the grass because that was recommended also. That's OK I can replace it with muclch, no problem there! I was just hesitant to do that because I seem to remember reading not to initially use mulch as it will be more of a hinderance.
I will take your suggestions! Hopefully I will have some blooms in a few months, or at least signs that there is life :)