Best to put them round the north side (so they don't get repeated freeze-thaw cycles from sunshine), and to sink the pots into the ground (as roots are less cold tolerant than foliage). If you can't sink them into the ground, cover them with some insulation, such as loose straw.

Resin

PS spellcheck: mugo (that 'h' is an all-too-common nurseryman's error)

Could such be overwintered in a unheated greenhouse?

Resin, I've got about 20 dwarf conifers that I'm moving to a new location. They've been dug out and are in black plastic pots(that you get when buying them at a nursery). I was thinking about putting them in the ground without the pots for the winter and then transplanting them to their permanent location in the spring. Would this be the right thing to do or just put them in the ground in the pots for the winter. I live in northern viginina. Thanks, George

Sinking them in black plastic is do-able. I may try that. A co-worker tonight told me she was told by our local nurseryman that most people who buy these things are rich and keep them over the mild season and throw them away after they freeze during the winter, then buy new each season. I got a $229 topiary spruce for $29. I can't believe people actually throw money like that away rich or not! Would it need to be unheated greenhouse or what about a sunroom in my house that is cooler than the rest of the house but is heated?

sink the pot and all into the ground .. BUT THERE MUST BE DRAINAGE ... in my sand.. pot and all is NO PROBLEM at all ... a plant can not live in an ice cube ...

with the only caveat being ...NONE OF THE POT CAN BE ABOVE GROUND .... put a little native soil into the bottom if you need to lift the plant up in the pot ...

even the slightest black ring.. on a cold sunny day .. can transfer unwanted heat down toward the roots ... you get one of those mild mid winter weeks.. and the thing thaws... well ... once might be humorous to the plant ... but twice and it will suffer.. and the third time it happens.. it will die ...

the key to over wintering is simple: GET IT DORMANT.. KEEP IT DORMANT ...

no plants can repeatedly go in and out of dormancy ... in the snow zones .. IMHO .... ken

Excellent advice Ken,forget the greenhouse idea just let them have a proper cold spell! All good info like this comes in handy!

Now I'm wondering how long will a tree like that live in a pot. Maybe I should just plant in the soil and forget trying to decorate my entry with it. I took out an overgrown pine tree I could put it in that spot although I wanted to put my mugo (notice the spelling is correct, Resin, thanks) in there. Both might not work. I'll have to ask the design forum. If I pot up the thing in a larger pot can it live in one indefinitely?

I sink around 200 pots each winter. I leave part of the top of the pot exposed, but my pots are sunk on the north side of my house and on the north side of a fence. I do sink pots on the east side of my house, too, without any problem. Most of my pots are black. Here in zone 4a, it doesn't make a difference if the top of the pot is exposed to any sun, but in zone 5 (and probably warmer), as Ken has stated, I guess it does. You'll just need to experiment. If you simply put the plant in the ground permanently, you won't need to worry about it. (:o)
Good luck,
Mike

Oh thank-you for the words of encouragement. I'm going to give it a try.

This is what I do for the winter and I have never lost a plant. On the southeast corner of my house I place a 4x8 sheet of plywood so that is extends past the south facing wall. I then place all my plants against the plywood and the east facing house wall and cover the pots in Oak leaves. I wait to do this until late November or early December to make sure the plant have fully harded off but before we get very cold weather.

This produces an area that is out of winter wind which typically comes out of the northeast and an area that is shaded the entire winter. This also produces an area that moderates temp fluctuations which I think are much more harmful to potted plant than how cold it gets.

I have had pot that have remained frozen after several days in the low 50's because the leaves act as insulation and there is no direct sun light.

David

David, that is an awesome suggestion! Don't they need some sun though?? Also, what happens if they get covered with say 1-2 feet of snow? (which is very often the case where I am located)