From Guest Blogger Lillian Connors: The Essentials of Moving Greenery to a New Home

When moving, we mostly think about our clothes and furniture arriving in one piece. When it comes to moving plants, many of us think it’s enough to place them in the truck and take them to the new home no matter how far away it is. However, moving is stressful for plants just like it is for us and due to improper transport they can get damaged or unhealthy. That’s why there are some essential things to know before your load your plants into the truck.

Prepare the plants for the move

If you want your plants to stay healthy during the move and continue their life in a new home, there are some preparations to be done. Several weeks prior to the move you should take time and clean the plants up. Cleaning up will make sure that they don’t carry any diseases, that they have no pesticides on them and that they are not pressured by dead leaves and branches. The less foliage the plant has, the less effort it will take to protect itself as a whole which will result in a healthy plant ready for the new garden.

Small plants

Smaller plants can be more fragile and that’s why you should take them out of their container for the move. Dig them out and wrap the roots in damp newspaper. Take each small plant bundle and place them into bags for storing food and secure them with a rubber band just below the foliage. This way, their roots will stay protected and hydrated enough to get through the moving and you can neatly store several of these into a box.

Big plants

Big plants are harder to transport because they can occupy plenty of space and moving is just too stressful for them. In order to avoid that you can downsize the big plant and let it grow in your new home. Start with making a cut with pruning shears at a 45-degree angle and strip the leaves at the lower section. Prepare a piece of water-absorbing floral foam and place it in a plastic container (a milk jug or a yogurt container). Soak the foam with water and use a pencil or scissors to punch enough holes in foam for all the cuttings to fit in.

Packing and loading

When it comes to packing, you should find suitable containers and store plants a day before moving. One of the best container choices are cardboard boxes because they are sturdy enough but leave space for the plant to breathe. In order to secure the plants from tumbling and falling over you can use damp newspaper or packing paper inside the boxes.

Additionally, you need to protect the leaves and you can do that with some paper. Use a thin damp layer of paper and gently place it on top of each plant and it will act as a protective layer keeping the leaves hydrated and safe. After packing is done, you should clearly mark each box so your movers will handle them with care. Lastly, you can close the boxes on moving day. Just give each plant a gentle spray of water and close the lids. Punch a few breathing holes and they are ready. However, if your plants are extra fragile and you want the safest way to move them, you’d be best advised to rely on genuine professionals, as the people at City Removalist, to make sure your plants arrive safe and healthy to their new home.

Extra precaution

There are few more things to remember when moving your plants. Firstly, make sure they are loaded into the truck last, so you can take them out first when you arrive into your new home. Also, don’t expose wrapped plants to direct sunlight and don’t leave them to sit in a car or trunk overnight. Don’t water the plants on the day of the move; do it the day before. Lastly, make sure to unpack the plants as soon as they arrive. Be careful not to damage the stem when unpacking and place the plants in a darker area first and gradually expose them to sunlight so they will have the chance to adjust.

Just like your pets, your plants should be your priority while moving. They are delicate and fragile and you don’t want them to dry out or die during this time. Be careful and take extra precaution and your plants will be properly transferred to your new abode.