pics might help with suggestions

Intertwining Daphne tangutica which from experience doesn’t take well to moving.

similar rhodie on other side of walkway.

This is just one example of right plant wrong place in an older garden.........

Will be replacing with Kalmia “Elf” and small Pieris, maybe Cavatine.

If you have any experience with transplanting established shrubs at all this should be a breeze. Because as mentioned above rhododendrons are easy.

Was listening to Margaret Roach's podcast about watering recently, and learned a tip I used when I recently moved shrubs. Tip was to dig the hole and fill it with water BEFORE the shrub goes in, so soil below shrub is fully soaked. Then plant the shrub and water again from the top. Supposed to be much better for providing deep water for the root system. Just passing the tip along.

and making a “wall” around the plant so it is in a very shallow moat When you do a deep watering the water doesn’t just run downhill or spread out .

Supposed to be much better for providing deep water for the root system

And yet the roots are pretty much all going to be above this level when the plant is first installed. And for some time afterward.

True, embothrium! I forgot about the rhododendron’s “pancake-like” root system per above statement. Well, it’s a tip for other shrubs/trees. Marie, second you on shallow wall. Have rebuilt some dirt walls during this drought.