Welcome Lee! I'm sure it will be far happier in the ground than in the pot. Dig a hole bigger than the pot and don't forget to untangle and spread out the roots when you put it in the ground. Should be fine :-)

and just about perfect timing for planting your tree in the ground to . its worth putting it wear you want and turning it and going and looking at it from different angles and distances before you commit to planting .

Just be sure not to cover the soil from the pot and the lower trunk with soil, as this will damage, or possibly kill the tree.