The Movers.com Blog

Hands down, gardening is a great way to spruce up your new home

Before you start digging up anything, you should do your homework and be aware of several factors:

Restrictions – If you are moving to another state, there may be restrictions on what plants can be brought in. Furthermore, if you are relocating to another country, you will probably not be allowed to bring any plants or even seeds. Make sure you know which of your plants can be brought along before relocating.

Climate – Research the climate of you new home and determine whether your plants will be able to adapt. It won’t be worth the trouble of transplanting them if they can’t survive in your new environment.

Transportation – You will also have to decide how you want to transport your plants. They may not do too well if they are packed up in the moving van without much sunlight or fresh air, and some moving companies won’t accept them anyway. If you have the room, it is a good idea to transport the plants in your car. Just be sure to take the proper precautions against dirt spillage.

Once you have the logistics figured out, you can start packing your plants:

Seeds – The easiest way to move your garden is to simply bring along the seeds from your annual flowers and vegetables and grow them anew. This way, you won’t have to dig up your plants and go through the trouble of transporting and replanting them. After harvesting the seeds, allow them to dry out before placing them into envelopes. While you will have to start your garden over from scratch, at least you will have a piece of your old garden at your new home.

Bulbs – Bulbs are also fairly easy to take along on your move. When the bulbs are dormant, just dig them up. Most flower bulbs can then be dried and stored for up to six months. To transport bulbs to your new home, pack them in peat moss, which will keep them dry and protect them during the move.

Plants and shrubs – To move perennials and other small outdoor plants, you will want to put them in pots or containers prior to moving. This should be done well before the move, so the plants can grow accustomed to their temporary homes and so the transplanting shock won’t be as severe. During the move, they should be packed in plastic-lined cardboard boxes. When you arrive at your new house, you can remove them from their containers and plant them back in the ground.

Trees – As you can imagine, trees are much more difficult to move. However, if you have a tree that is very rare or sentimental, there are ways of moving it. A young or vary small tree can be moved by following the tips above, but transporting and transplanting a larger tree should be left to professionals. Though it can be expensive, several companies across the country provide tree-moving services.

Although moving outdoor plants to your new home can be a difficult task, it will be worth it. Bringing something familiar to your new home can definitely help you adjust to new surroundings. Just follow these tips and hopefully your plants will be able to adjust to their new surroundings as well.