Where in New England? I should also caution those reading that I am in an extreme weather area, Approximately 2500 feet above sea level, no obstruction to block the wind or to hold in the heat. I live in the Cascade mountains about 7 miles from Satus Pass. In the winter we get cold - and almost no heating from the sun.
That said, tar or paint heavily your post to a foot up from your concrete and mound topsoil around it. No sense to worry about a small thing like this especially if your are not exposed and the project is done. Do you worry about pipes freezing in the winter? If not, you probably do not have a frost problem! We have to drain our pipes that are buried less that 2 feet or they freeze. We have shut offs on all our laterals, with drain valves at the lowest points - 2 to 3 ft extensions on the handles....