It's late for our zone, for sure, Kim....but, I'd follow Tom's advice....give them an overnight soak, get 'em in the ground, and find some rocks, bricks...or something, to use as "hold-downs. You won't need the "bricks" until the ground starts to freeze, though. After the soil DOES freeze, some pine needles, evergreen branches, or anything that won't 'pack down' could be used as a mulch to KEEP it frozen (it's the "freeze- thaw-freeze-thaw" that you need to avoid)until early spring, would help. Any mulch should be removed ....for us about the first of March, on the average.
