How to Safely Move Your Plants to Their New Home
It's not unusual to take your potted plants with you when you move to a new home. It's slightly less usual to uproot small trees and shrubs and take these with you too, but it's not outside the realm of possibility. Moving your plants requires a little bit of effort to ensure that they arrive safe and sound at their new home.
Who You'll Need to Inform
There are two parties you need to inform when you're moving plants.
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Be sure to tell your removals company. While their truck will contain a number of the necessary materials, they might wish to stock additional protective materials, such as plastic tarpaulins to protect both your other possessions and their truck.
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If you plan to actually dig up and transport any small trees or shrubs, you will have needed to inform the new owners of your home. Your plants are unlikely to have been the reason they decided to purchase your property, but any changes to landscaping prior to them taking possession of the property will need to be cleared.
Moving the Plants
What about the actual moving of the plants? Ensure that the plants in question have been watered prior to preparing them. Time this carefully. You want the soil to be damp, though not sopping wet. Particularly delicate plants might benefit from a dose of plant food.
Small Plants
Small pot plants should have their pots wrapped in an appropriate protective material, such as bubble wrap or old rags. Place these pots into a cardboard box. Fit as many as you can so that they sit snugly together. This means that they will be less likely to shift while in transit. If the box can accommodate their foliage, close it for added protection. Be sure to carefully label the box so that nothing is inadvertently stacked on top of it.
Large Plants
Larger plants (shrubs and small trees) should have their pots wrapped in a protective material as well. The pot can then be placed inside a sturdy plastic bag with its foliage protruding upwards. Bunch up the plastic bag and secure it to the trunk of the plant with the foliage still protruding upwards, held in place with garden twine. The twine should be tight enough to stay in play (preventing soil spillage) but not tight enough to damage the plant.
Even the best laid plans can sometimes go awry, so it can be beneficial to have a couple of spare pots for an emergency transplant in case of breakage. But with a little bit of planning and effort, your plants will arrive at their new home happy and healthy.
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