How do you transplant a new hollyhock plant? How deep, do you shake the soil off the roots first?

Question

I just bought this plant at a nursery. I live in a humid area of Southern New Jersey.

Answer 1

If the plant came in a pot from the nursery, then just slide the entire root/soil ball out of the container and place it in a hole with the top of the soil line from the pot at the same level as the surrounding soil grade, not too deep. Backfill around the outside of the container soil, tamp the soil lightly to settle and water deeply and thoroughly, muddy wet to settle the backfilled soil.

If it came in a loose package, just lift it out shake or let the loose soil fall off, but no need to remove all the soil. Plant with the soil grade at the level where the roots become stems, roots below soil grade, stems above. Water settle the backfill in the same way. Don’t let the roots become exposed to the air for any length of time and dry out. Keep it wet until you are ready to plant, then plant and water right away.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/hollyhock/tips-on-hollyhocks-growing-hollyhocks-successfully.htm