They will survive once established, if planted and sited well. The first winter, it should be protected, at least from the wind. I suggest a mini hoop house or large tomato cage with landscape fabric around it.

Thanks prob will protect them this year.

I would use mulch as well. If you guys get regular snowfall, then It wont be a problem, but im sure it would appreciate at least 4 or 5 inches of leaves inside the cage to make sure the roots stay happy. Also, try to keep to on the dryish side... The smaller the plant is, the easier it will be to protect, but wont have its full hardiness.

Keep the crowns dry. Needles are notorious for having crown rot, especially in young plants.

Thanks sadly we don't get a lot of snow usually and if we do it felts within a day or two. We have really wet winters. I have some experience overwintering trachys this is my first year with needles also have some sabal minors to protect as well.

Mine have been easier than the Trachys,never spear pulled.

My 2 cents. Put a sealed sturdy plastic enclosure over it. Keep it dry. Mulch. Keep some extra heating inside in case it gets really cold 0f -18c (You never know). Give the crown a treatment of copper fungiside before the cold hits. I have lost a couple of 3 gal needles until I gave my recent planted needle palm a little extra protection last winter. All good.

John

I live a bit north of you by Chicago in zone 5b. I don't think you will need to add any addition heat. I just put up a pop up min greenhouse over it, add some mulch (on the inside and around outside rim), then put in a few milk gallons filled with water. If it is planted in an area that gets some winter sun, it should heat up in the daylight hours. That's what I do to mine anyway. It takes only about 20 minutes tops. It comes through in perfect condition. 😀

I have 3 small ones that I bought and planted this year. I wanted to ensure their survival so used these barrels over the top.

One of the 3 has heat tape around the root ball, the other two don't

Thanks I protected them put a tomato cage over them and filled it with dry leaves wrapped it in bubble wrap and put a thick black plastic trash bag over it, to keep it dry. We are getting a blizzard right now really windy there are already like 2 inches of snow so far, it prob wont last more than a few days though.

Speaking of R. hystrix, I have one in pot on the balcony. Pot was wrapped in straw, to keep the roots warmer. There's been like 3 nights with temps -10C/14F, so I put a blanket around it, but palm doesn't look good, now. Some of the leaves still look shrunk from the frost. Am I overreacting? 😕

Those temps would freeze the roots.

Because it was in a pot, and not planted?

Yup.... and the fact it is so young. My Japanese Maple faces the same fate, unless in extremely lucky (same with the needle)

I will say, I left out my P canariensis,P robellenii, Chinese fan palm, and my Philo. selloum (im too lazy to look up the right name lol ) in a few nights at -7C. They all had frond damage, but are all recovering inside quite well. The only difference is, older plants and much bigger pots then yours maybe?