Buying plants in winter

[Purpleraindeer]

Crocus has a sale on at the moment and they’re selling clematis and hydrangea, both of which I want for my garden. If I bought them now would they do ok if I planted them out? It seems so mild at the moment it feels like it would be ok, but I’m wondering how they’d do if we had a cold snap.
Thoughts?

Don't plant them when it's frosty or the soil is frozen. Otherwise, winter and early spring used to be the main planting season. It wasn't until we started to get container grown plants rather than bare-rooted that we were able to plant all the year round.

Thanks for the tip about the sale! I found some bargains too

If they are container-grown, then they will be happier in the ground and the roots will be more protected during a cold snap than if they are above ground in the pots.