Let’s face it; moving house is one of the most stressful things you’ll ever have to do. But if you throw delicate plants into the equation, you stand a good chance of raising those stress levels even higher!
It pays to be prepared if you’re planning a big move and have some green friends to take with you. You can do plenty of things to make the move easier for your plants, ensuring they cope with the journey and settle into their new environment well.
Here are a few of our top tips on how to move plants to a new house.
How to transport a plant: Making preparations
We always recommend preparing for a move as far as possible, particularly if you’re moving with houseplants on board. Take a look at our removal experts’ tips on how to prepare your plants for moving day.
Choose the best time to move
If possible, it’s a good idea to move house during the season that best suits your plants. This will vary according to the particular type of plants you have.
If you’ve got an extensive collection of tropical plants, they might cope better with a summer move. This avoids cold shocks as they’re removed from your house and placed into a chilly removals van.
The length of your journey will also affect how well plants might cope with the temperature change. Longer journeys in cold vans will be more damaging to exotic plants than a short trip might be.
Water and food
We can’t all choose the season we’re moving in, but there are things you can do to improve the situation for your plants if you have to move at short notice.
Three days before your move, give all your plants plenty of water and food. This will ensure they’re in the best possible condition before moving day. It’ll also prevent you from watering them too close to the move, as you won’t want to contend with leaking plant pots on the journey.
Prune and check
As you prepare your plants for the move, give them a good trim and make sure they’re in good health. Prune any dead leaves, keeping an eye out for pests as you do so.
A thorough check will ensure that no pests are transferred between plants during the move. If you spot any problems, deal with them before you start packing the plants for your move.
8 steps for moving plants
If you’re already feeling overwhelmed by the monumental task of keeping your plants safe during a house move, we’re here to help. Follow our step-by-step guide, and you’ll soon see there’s nothing to it. Here’s what you need to do and when.
1. Remove decorative pots
Decorative pots are easily damaged, so remove them and set them aside to be packaged separately. Plants will be fine in their plastic pots for the move itself.
2. Prepare your boxes
You can’t think about how to move a storage shed without considering your new garden.
Don’t forget to make way for your shed in your new outdoor space! Ensure ample access to the garden, remove any obstructions and clear the spot where your shed will sit.
3. Plan how you will pack the plants
Think about arranging your plants in your space, separating small plants from larger plants. Plants packed tightly together will be safer, as they’re less likely to fall over during the journey.
4. Keep more delicate plants aside
If you have any particularly delicate or fragile plants, leave these to one side and package them up on their own once everything else is ready.
5. Leave boxes open for sunlight
Don’t be tempted to close the boxes. Your plants will soon start to suffer if they’re in darkness. Leave the tops of the boxes open and place them somewhere where they’ll still get some light while you move the rest of your belongings.
6. Unpack your plants immediately on arrival
Unpack the plants as quickly as you can once you arrive. Kitchen utensils can wait – plants can’t!
7. Give your plants water and food as soon as possible
Give your plants a good drink and food as soon as you unpack them.
8. Position your plants in their new home
Look out for bright, sunny positions that will suit your plants. Set them up to thrive in their new home.
If In Doubt, Call In The Professionals
If you’ve got a big move planned and you need assistance, don’t hesitate to give our team a call. We’re the Removals and Storage Experts, and we’re on hand to make moving house that bit easier.
Our team knows all there is to know about moving house with plants, from how to pack plants for shipping to how to pack house plants for moving.
We move plants across the country and can help with everything from protecting root balls to keeping small plants safe with bubble wrap. We can even help you ship plants internationally.
If you’ve questions about how to transport house plants when moving, we’re the removals company to talk to. Give us a call to find out more.
