LIVING ROOM

Moving House: How to Move Plants

Plants are a fantastic way to add colour and interest to your new home – but the process of moving them can be a headache. Here are some straightforward tips on how to ensure your plants survive the removal process.

Before Moving Day

If you’re using a removals company, it’s worth checking that they are happy to move plants. Some companies prefer to avoid moving plants because they are aware that they are fragile and can easily be damaged during moves, so make sure you check whether your company is able to help.

If it’s the right season for it, consider pruning any larger plants to reduce their size and make them easier to manage and to fit into packing boxes. This has the added benefit of making them less likely to be damaged whilst moving, as you can quickly and cleanly prune away parts of the plant that might otherwise get torn or damaged accidentally.

Where possible, transfer your plants from heavy terracotta pots or troughs into plastic containers, making them considerably lighter and easier to move. Plastic pots are also tougher and much more resistant to shocks and impacts, meaning that they’re less likely to get broken in transit, and you’re less likely to end up with a mess of soil and pottery shards!

During The Move

Be sure to leave your plants as one of the very last things that you pack up – remember that these are living things, and they won’t take kindly to being placing in the back of a stuffy van, so it’s really important to minimise the amount of time they spend in transit.

Small plants can be effectively packaged in cardboard packing boxes, and there are some precautions you can take here as well. Try lining the bottom of the box with plastic sheeting, or even old plastic bags, in order to waterproof it against any dampness from the plant pots. This will prevent the bottom of the box from becoming soggy and weak. You may be able to fit several small plants in a single box, in which case you should pad the space between the pots with newspaper or a similar packing material. This will stop the plants from falling over and getting damaged, and should also help prevent damage to the plant containers by stopping them jostling against each other.

If you have taller, more fragile plants then it may be worth giving them some additional protection, for example by placing them in wardrobe boxes. This will help to minimise any damage, but it’s important to ensure that they don’t stay in dark, confined spaces for too long. To this end you can also punch some holes in any boxes you use in order to give the plants a good supply of fresh air during the move.

Unpacking & Settling In

As we’ve said, it’s vital to keep your plants in transit for the shortest possible period of time, so it follows that they should be one of the first things you unpack. As you unpack your plants it can be a good idea to open the box at the bottom and lift it away from the plant, rather than lifting the plant out of the box. This way you can avoid bending or snapping any branches against the box as you lift the plant out. Of course, this might only be necessary for larger plants that are a snug fit in their boxes.

Once your plants are safely installed in the new house, give them a drink and a little time to recover, and they should settle in just fine!

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