Do you know how to move plants?

When you’re moving there are often two “categories” of things you plan to move. Your belongings, and the living things in your household like children and pets. But there is one item that can often be forgotten because it can fit into both categories: your plants. Plants are your belongings, so it might be your first instinct to just pack them up, but they are also living things and require special care and attention to move.

If you don’t have your plants properly prepared for a move, they can suffer damage or even die. But can’t you just get your moving company to do it? It’s not quite that simple, in fact some moving companies won’t move plants at all. At Two Small Men, we will move your plants, but our movers are not arborists or botanists, so we can only move plants as we would any regular fragile item.

7 IMPORTANT TIPS FOR MOVING PLANTS

If you’re only moving a short distance (especially during moderate weather) it’s fairly simple to just have your moving company put them in the truck for a trip across town. But, there are some precautions you should take to ensure your plants can arrive at your new home safe and healthy. Here are 7 tips for how to move plants you’ll want to know:

MOVE THEM QUICKLY

The key to moving plants is to move them as quickly as possible. That means packing them last and unloading them first, especially if the conditions outside aren’t ideal for them. If you’re making an extra trip before the movers with important documents or other items, it’s probably a good idea to try to take most of your plants with you as well. 

HOT? KEEP THEM WET

If the weather is hotter outside than it normally is in your home, make sure to keep your plants damp. That means watering them well the morning before the move and wrapping them in damp newspaper before packing or moving them to ensure they don’t get dried out. 

COLD? KEEP THEM DRY

If you’re moving when the weather is cold, it can be particularly dangerous to plants that are wet or damp. So if possible, try to avoid watering plants for an extra day before moving so they can be a little on the dry side. Then wrap them in dry newspaper prior to packing or moving.

MAKE SURE THEY CAN BREATHE

For smaller plants, it can be easier to pack them in boxes. If you’re going to do this, just make sure to put some holes in the box (especially for longer distance moves) to ensure adequate ventilation. 

STAKE TALL PLANTS FOR STABILITY

If you’re wondering how to move plants that are tall, the answer is to always provide stability. It’s a good idea to add a stake next to them to help keep them steady. Just tie the stalk or trunk to the stake and you won’t have to worry as much about them being knocked over or bent the wrong way.

PACK THEM TIGHTLY

It can be very damaging to plants to be bent or squished or otherwise moved into an unnatural position. To help prevent this, you should pack up your plants tightly so there isn’t room for them to move around too much. Add newspaper or plastic bags to boxes where you’re packing smaller plants. You can even add moss to the top of planters to ensure the base of the plant can’t be bent. 

CONSULT A BOTANIST

If you have exotic plants – or even if you’re unsure about the temperature sensitivities of regular plants, you should consult a local botanist, arborist, or greenhouse. The methods for how to move plants with special care requirements might be different than local plants and they’ll be able to tell you the safest way to move the different types of your plants.

If you’re getting ready to move soon, make sure to get your free moving estimate from us today! Interested in how you can save money on your move? Find out here!