I promised myself to hold off until spring to plant a brand-new bed I created.

Yah, right.

Anyway, Home Depot is selling small shrubs for $2.99 (8-inch pots and the plants look like they were pruned down summer stock made to look attractive). The roots look good, the foliage healthy. I picked up two weigela minuet and two burning bushes. I also found Veronica on sale.

I plan to heel them into a sheltered spot for now and transplant them in the Spring.

Since it's getting a little late here in Central Ontario, should I tuck them in some good quality soil and compost (I suspect Veronica likes it a little leaner) with lots of bonemeal or should I just sink the pots into the soil and mulch well?

They'll be overwintering near a white-painted wall, facing south. There may be some winter thaw as the bed is a little sloped and it hasn't exactly been frigid here these past winters.