Hi Mike, I am down on the coast of Connecticut zone 6b. Last year I sank most of my potted fig trees in the ground. I did this to help cool the root system down on hot days, give the root system a chance to grow out of the pots for some extra nutrients, and keep the plants from blowing over on windy days. The key is that the pots must have the drainage holes on the sides and not on the bottom of the pot. By doing this, it is much easier to dig up and bring in for the winter. Just run the spade down the sides of the pot. You will cut any escaping roots, but that does not cause any issues. I buried mine in raised beds and covered the mounds with water permeable plastic. I mulched between the row with grass to prevent weeds. I also set up a drip irrigation system on a timer. The down side is the extra work it takes to dig up the fig trees. Hope this helps. Dave