Year before last I planted several shrubs out the first week of November. It was so cold my hands were like ice cubes when I came in. They all did great, but I did have them mulched.
Cher

I'd plant them. They were going to stay outside at the nursery, weren't they? Makes more sense than trying to baby them through the winter, taking up space in the garage, just when you need it the most.
Garages have a way of filling up fast in my world and I'm not talking plants. Dry space fills up as fast as the roof goes on here in the Seattle area.

Mike

for best odds.. plant them ..

they are local.. they are hardened off.. they are ready ....

they wont need mulch until the heat next summer ...

you are over-thinking it all .. just do it ..

air temps aside.. the ground will not freeze for 4 to 6 weeks.. with plenty of sunny days to keep the soil warm enough for root growth.. please define what the downside would be????

ken

There isn't...I guess I'm just tired of planting and I know I'll be like speedy gonzales come April.

The combo of your feedback and weather forecast just answered my question....51 and sunny for tomorrow. I'm just going to crank it up and get it done.

Also I just thought of this as well that the garage would warm up the potting media prematurely in late winter/early spring and I'd have plants leafing out too early then I might have to wait until mid-May!