Deanna:

In Z8b you should have no problems with root freezing of trees or berries in 20 gal pots. Last winter we dropped to 10F several times and my trees in 15 gal pots did fine.

Right now my potted trees are either outside in the warmest spot I've got or in the highest chilling spot I've got. The low chill stuff that blooms to early is in the warm spot to try to delay chilling and thus bloom. Once I think they're chilled, this stuff will go to the cool spot to again try to delay bloom.

The high chill stuff is in the area with the most chilling which strange as it might seem is in my greenhouse. I have a specific regime involving evaporative cooling and shade cloth to increase chilling to about 2-3 times that outside.

After the leaves fall off the trees, I cut way back on watering.

Thank you fruitnut, this info helps me so much. The nectarines and plum are just starting to show that they are getting ready for winter, the blueberries seem to be thriving and even growing a little more I guess they know what their doing lol. I had already slowed the watering a little as I do not want them to get water logged and kill off some of the root system before they sleep. Thanks again :o)Deanna

I burried my blueberries in the garden with pots on!
I think they are good to go for the winter

Tonight is supposed to be down to 30 degrees (probably won't get much lower) and have freeze/frost warnings the next few days.

Am I lucky enough that me peaches, cherries, apples, pears, and blueberries (everything except citrus) in containers above ground don't need root protection in my zone 9 where temps don't get much below 30?

Most of the above are very young and some are in the gritty mix (more prone to lower temps). Some are in larger 18gal containers and others are in 16" plastic and fabric containers. They are don't shedding, but are certainly in the process.
I've seen comments on the blueberries don't need any winter protection, regardless of container size for z9.

In case it matters, the cherries on Zaiger and GM61 dwarfing stock. Pears on 333, and apples on dwarfing.

The citrus are taken care of. Learned over the past few years what each tree can handle -- it was right in-line with documented tolerances: the Trifoliate rootstocks handled the lowest temps, and the foliage/scion handled it based on variety of citrus.

TIA

Tia I always some deciduous fruit trees in pots through the winter with no problem. Last night it was 27 degrees and will probably be to 26 soon which is about our normal low winter temperature which has never been a problem. Al