oh, good question...i have asked this question on another forum, and i got conflicting advice....so i DID plant everything IN THEIR POTS...what say you midwesterners????thanks, phyl

I would say plant it in the ground now and dig up in the spring. It will get a better root system in the ground.

out of pot, into ground, and move next spring. That's what I've done.

I have always planted my late purchases into the ground. However, I lost fully half of them by the following spring.
I never took any special care with mulches and such, so that might help to keep them alive. Do know that watering is esential. Up until the ground freezes, keep these newbys watered.

It really is up to you- but I have found that most potted plants are pretty stressed by this time of year- I have found a greater sucess rate at burying pots- and planting out in spring. Lets them rest a bit- instead of working hard to establish themselves before winter really hits.
Either way watering is important- although I do tend to stop watering when I put the hose away well before the ground freezes-

thanks for the reminder....i almost FORGOT i had planted(IN THEIR POTS) several shrubs and i HAVEN'T been watering them....actually, tho, it's been raining so much that it probably didn't matter!!!! i WISH we would have a couple DRY weeks...i still have alot of work left to do in the yard!

phyl

One reason to plant in the ground is that you might forget in the spring to move them, or some other circumstance could intervene. That way they are already planted and would have better luck than in their darn pots. :-) I would go with a nice mulch of leaves around them, too.

Marcia

No pots, although JULIE__MN has a valid point about the stress of them settling in so late in the year. Just don't make the same mistake I made last year. I planted a bunch of salvia just before the first frost WITHOUT LABELING their locations! GREAT BIG HUGE MISTAKE, by Spring I had holes all over the backyard and unfortunately, I damaged some of the roots and had to get rid of many. For the most part, those that were recovered were transplanted and grew with great success. Just don't forget to label 'em. Good luck!