KEEPING YOUR PLANTS SAFE WHEN YOU MOVE HOUSE Most of us who move house will have some plants that we want to take with us, these might be house plants or plants from your garden. Some plants may have strong sentimental value for you, these may have been gifted to you by loved ones. Carefully planning how you will move your plants and proper preparation will help to ensure that they survive the move and flourish in their new location. If you have a lot of plants discuss with your removal company how these will be moved. Moving with House Plants ◦ House plants often don’t like change, new light, humidity, and temperature levels mean they will have to adjust to their new surroundings. Below are some tips to help:- • Don’t’ water just before moving • If needed consider pruning larger plants and do this in advance of your move • Wrap large or sprawling plants in horticultural fleece to protect them, or place them in individual boxes and secure them with packing materials. If using boxes make sure you clearly mark the box as fragile and that it contains a plant. Plants should be wrapped and boxed at the time of your move. Get everything prepared and ready to do this. ◦ If it’s cold when you are moving you might want to carefully wrap plants in horticultural fleece. If are moving when it is very warm you may want to place water granules in the pots, these soak up excess water and slowly release it back into the soil. ◦ When you arrive at your new property, unpack your plants as soon as possible, and depending on your plant’s preference leave them somewhere bright or with medium light and where it is warm for a few days. Always let plants adjust to their new location for a couple of weeks before feeding, pruning, or repotting. Moving with Garden Plants ◦ If you are planning on removing plants from your garden you should ensure that this has been made clear to your buyers. Garden plants often are part of the sales agreement, you must therefore give your buyer written warning of your intention to take any plants from the garden prior to sale. ◦ For large plants with heavy pots consider repotting into large plastic pots for the move, this can be done well in advance of your move. Depending on the season when you move you may be able to prune your plant to make it more manageable. The best time for moving plants is often early spring or late autumn when most are dormant. They tend to adapt more quickly to their new surroundings during this period. ◦ As heavy garden plant pots, troughs and containers are not usually moved very often, check them for frost and other damage before moving day. ◦ If you are uprooting outdoor plants it is important to dig as far around the plant as you can, to keep the root structure intact. Cover the roots in soil or other organic matter and transfer to a pot or wrap them in a layer of sheeting, followed by protective wrap. ◦ Long stems or branches can be gently tied together with canes used for extra support. ◦ Unpack and check your plants as soon as you can after arrival and let them acclimatise to their new surroundings. Choose a specialist removals company who have experience in transporting plants and garden items, speak to your removals company to discuss your individual requirements.