I seriously doubt it was the cold causing problems. It was more likely to be lack of water/general root disturbance issues. Unless it has been quite rainy there, the forsythia needed regular watering. If it has been watered, I'd expect it to be back next year, just smaller and less dense.

I don't think the cold damaged your Forsythia. Perhaps the roots dried out when transplanting, or after it was planted.
Mike

crikey ... you warm zone peeps crack me up ..

its deciduous ... with temps like that.. they are going to be falling off in a week or two anyway ...

the transplant doesnt help that equation ..

see link.. water properly ... deep into fall ...

i expect 100% success.. you cant kill the darn things .. though whether it will be 4 feet tall in spring.. i dont know ... depends how bad the transplanting was ...

i once dug a huge one out.. in 100 degree august.. literally massacred the roots .... physically dragged it across acreage ... shoved it in a hole .... and never watered it.. it lived ... though it wasnt pretty for a few year.. lol

good luck

ken

ps: leafless is better for the transplant anyway.. ignore them.. they will all fall off.. like they are supposed to ...

Here is a link that might be useful: link

It was extremely rainy that week. Record breaking rainy. I will cross my fingers and keep watering, I guess!

I didn't think it was possible to kill a forsythia!
Have you scratched the bark with a fingernail (low down on the plant) to see if it's still green? If it is, the plant is still alive. Even if it isn't, it may come back from the roots next spring. Give it plenty of time.