Looks like lack of water. Depending on soil and weather conditions, once a week for a couple of hours with a soaker may not have been enough.

insert finger.. and find out .... otherwise you are guessing .. and presuming your system of watering is sufficient ...

is the wall south facing??? ...

where are you ... weather since planting???

you planted awful close to the wall ... check if it stays warm or hot.. after dark ... if so .. its not getting a night recovery period ... which complicates a watering issue ...

did you use landscape fabric?

ken

Check the original rootball. that's where the majority of the water needs to go during the first summer.

It's on the east side. I live in zone 6a. I planted it in April when the weather was around high 70's to mid 80's. This last month has been in the mid 90's and close too 100. Do you think it could be nitrogen deficiency? I will check the soil around it to see if it's moist or dry. Thanks for the input

And no, I didn't use landscape fabric. Just mulch

if its only one of the four ... it is not a soil issue ...

this plant is severely stressed ... it is not hungry ... and there was probably enough fert in the pot it came in.. for a lifetime ...

imo.. shrubs simply dont need fert.. ever ... and i grow in glacial sand ...

its a water issue ... one way or another ...

ken

No, it's not a nitrogen deficiency. It's a water deficiency as others have said. A soaker hose releases water slowly, so I never used mine for less than 6 hours or so. You want the water to have a chance to soak in deeply, so that the roots grow out deeper. Also, sometimes once the root ball dries out, it is quite difficult to rewet due to the physical properties of the potting soil. Your shrubs need a really good soaking ASAP.

Thank you all so much for the input. I had the same thought about it coming with enough fertilizer in the pot. Gonna give it a good soaking asap! I always get a little nervous about giving them too much water, but I think you all are right. Is a soaker hose the best way to water? Is a once a week soaking sufficient? Thanks again!

There are no hard and fast rules for how often or how long. Sandy soil and hot temperatures dry out much faster than clay soils and cooler temperatures, and there is an infinite number of combinations of soil, sun, and temperatures. A soaker hose is a great way to water, but it is slow so needs a lot of time each time you use it. The way to tell when to water is when you stick your finger in to about the second knuckle and the soil doesn't feel moist or is only just barely moist. Check frequently, like a couple of times a week until you get a feel for how your temperatures and soil behave.

check to see how wet the soil is, looks like it has dried out but may still live if dead leaves are removed and it starts receiving sufficient water.

Thanks for all your input!! I gave it a good watering and took off all the dead leaves. It was down to bare minimum and I didn't think it was gonna make it. I started to water it every 5 days for 6 hours with the soaker hose and it's coming back to life!! Thanks again for all the advice!!

now that you have moisture at depth ... i doubt you will need to water it for 6 hours at a time ...

proper watering.. is to give it a deep soak .. and then let a plant near dry before the next deep soaking ... and even in my sand.. that could be weeks inbetween the soakings.. AND ONLY FOR THE FIRST YEAR .;.. insert finger.. or dig the small holes.. and find out ... how it all works in your soil.. in your yard.. in your micro climate ....

next year.. ONLY water in drought ...

year 3.. it should be fully established.. and free range.. never needing water again ...

i planted little 8 inch plants .. i watered them in at planting.. in sand ... and have never watered them again.. 5 years later.. they are still out there..dont baby them.. treat them like the near unkillable shrub they are ....

ken