According to Our Country Garden, UK gardeners spend £670 on average per year on their garden. It’s a hobby that can be expensive but hugely beneficial to mental health and wellbeing, as well as the aesthetic of the outdoor space of a home.
When so much time, hard work and money has been invested into your garden, the decision to relocate becomes even harder, but what if you could take your plants with you? Yes, really. It may be something that you hadn’t considered. You may have already said your goodbyes – but wait, there’s work to be done.
Tough choices
As nice as your garden may be, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to move lots of the plants from it. There will always be more plants to buy, and you can replicate the things you love and create a new landscape in your new home. While you may already know that you aren’t taking some, there may be reasons why the ones that you are hoping will join you on the journey will not be going any further. These include parasites and any issues with the roots. Take time to prune and treat your plants and thoroughly go over them, then ask yourself: do you think they will survive transportation?
Preparing your plants
If you would like to literally uproot your plants from the ground and take them with you, it’s best to leave them in the ground until right up to the day before you move. Leave a big enough space for the roots when digging them up, then wrap the roots in damp sackcloth and bubble wrap.
If you are moving potted plants, think of your movers. Heavy plant pots can weigh more than your white goods so if possible, it’s best to transfer your potted plants to plastic pots, which will make them easier to transport.
What does your buyer want?
Of course, your buyer may be expecting your garden to look as it did when they viewed your home, so may be surprised to find some plants missing. You’re under no obligation to leave your plants in, or to communicate that you’ll be taking some. This is just to say that your buyer may be very happy to find that your garden is just the way they viewed it – which may make those tough decisions even easier to make.
Packaging
Don’t wrap your plants too tightly in bubble wrap, give them enough space to be transported without damage. If you are transporting plants in pots, it doesn’t have to be expensive – buy some cheap felt and cut a slit for the stalk. The main reason for this is to avoid soil escaping in transit, but it’s also helpful if you are moving in the colder months.
Should you be moving plants in boxes, there are three big things to remember: do punch airholes and label the boxes but don’t water the plants. If your removal company knows what’s in the box, they’ll know to put the plants in last, so that they can be first out to catch some sunlight again.
If you would like a hand with your move – with or without plants – please get in touch.