New Trees in December in Iowa?

I wouldn't say I was excited to gather my mail from the post office today until I opened my little box and found a key for a bigger box.  That meant someone had sent me something and it had to special since its Christmas time.  And then it happened... I opened the box and found the white plastic bag with live trees in it from the Arbor Day Foundation.  But its December and in Iowa, the ground is already frozen on the top inch or so.  There was no way I was going to be to break ground with a shovel.  What do I do?

I brainstormed for a short amount of time and then it hit me.  Yesterday, as I was cleaning out the garage, I came aross a five gallon bucket full of potting soil.  My brained triggered in on having my sights on everything Dad has taught me about trees and their needs.  Trees need to be able to go dormant for the winter with their roots in medium with little to no water.  The purpose of the ground is to give the roots insulation.  I can re-create that insulation with my bucket of dirt and the garage. 

I brought the bucket outside with the trees in hand.  One by one I planted the trees in the bucket; eight following the rim with two planted in the middle.  I got them all packed in settled for the winter and gave them a little bit of water.  I will leave them outside for a few days since we will be right above freezing and then move them into the garage for a long winter's sleep.  Let Mother Nature do her thing and force them into dormancy.  Goodnight sweet trees.  See you in the Spring!