Bearberries Are Turning Brown And Dying

Question From: Glen Arm, Maryland, United States
Q: i planted bearberry plants (Arctostaphylos) under a large tulip popular - my soil is loam on the clayish side and they get part sun. other plants are growing great. the bearberries turned brown and died. i have not watered them at all after the first planting as we have received rain off and on. Any suggestions to save them? thanks.

A: Water them. I water newly planted shrubs daily for the first week -if the weather is hot I do the same for the second week, These new shrubs were competing with the roots of the trees for water and the trees won. Good Luck and Happy Yardening, Nancy