I'm in NE Atlanta and the way I prepare my Basjoos for Winter is to do nothing! The leaves will get hit with frost and hang down along the trunks protecting them from the cold. My top leaves were close to 30' high in the Fall. So far, I've been lucky using the do nothing method. The warm weather types either are cut off at the ground and mulched or dug and stored in the garage. No need to have soil on the root ball or water them.
Good Luck!
