Yeah, I'd probably water the hell out of the rootballs and then bring them inside a garage on a tarp, or, keep them outside with hay piled over the rootballs, or, a temp hole that is just large enough to hold the trees (1/2 above groud) in place and mulch or hay over them.

In spring you'll have to open up the burlap and bare-root them to check the root structures and remove any potential girdling roots, then get them planted and mulched asap and keep them continuously watered all year until winter.

B&B trees are a gamble and it's not a good idea not to check the roots. Often they are really screwed up. You'd be wise to bare-root them and then plant them in your native soil versus just removing the burlap and dropping the unknown rootball mass into your planting hole.

Best of luck.

Dax

thanks for the info to all of you. They are in the back of my truck and I will decide what to do with them in the next day or so.

The only way I'd plant them is if the soil was workable, I could get to the flare and the plants are somewhat protected from the wind. Not sure if heaving would be much of an issue for you.

you first post says you are .. or implies.. you are z5 ...

the post nearest above.. says.. or implies.. z9

where the heck are you???

i think that is the dominant issue ...

i am thinking slammin them into he ground is the best.. let ma nature keep those root masses temperate ...

ken

I am in zone 5 according to National weather service. -10 to -15degrees. I have decided to not plant the trees, piling compost, leaves around the balls and adding concrete insulating blanket around that. This should allow water to get to the trees over the winter and still protect the roots. Thanks for all help.

temps are irrelevant .. IMHO ... they are all zone appropriate ...

the issue is proper watering/drainage of the root mass...

and keeping dormancy continuous ... no thawing of the root mass ...

how you do it is not important... many ways..

the key is.. just.. doing it..

ken