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For all us plant lovers, knowing how to move plants when moving house is a big deal. After all, our favourite house plants and flowers pretty much become part of the family. So, when moving day comes around, you want to make sure that all your favourite greenery gets transported without any accidents. With this in mind, we’ve put together the following tips on how to move plants when moving house, to ensure they keep thriving. 

How To Move Indoor Plants When Moving House

The biggest worry that comes to mind when thinking about how to transport plants when moving house is them dying through lack of sunlight and nutrients, or their pot smashing or tipping over. Here are some essential steps you should consider when it comes to packing up your plants for the big move.

• Planning and preparation - We wouldn’t recommend packing your plants until the very last minute if you can help it, just to make sure that they have every chance of survival. A day or two before it is time to pack up and leave, give your plants a nice big water. This will make sure they have the best chance of survival if they cannot be watered for several days.
• Packing -  Packing plays a big part in how to move plants when moving house. When it comes to packing up, wrap large plants with an old bed sheet or tissue paper to prevent branches and the pot from breaking. 

• Positioning - The position your plant is placed in the box is also crucial. Place each pot in a box so it fits snugly at the bottom, and if possible, place softer furnishing around the plant for extra security.
• Label the box to ensure that our team knows that there are delicate items inside so that we can handle them with extra care and consideration.

 Plan To Move Outdoor Plants When Moving House

 When thinking about how to move plants when moving house, garden plants can be a little more tricky and there are a number of things that should be considered… 

• Where will the plant go in your new home? Consider drawing up a plan of your new garden to determine exactly where they will need to go. You should try to take into account factors such as the soil type, likely exposure to wind or frost, and the orientation of your new garden. Some plants will fare better in the warmth and light of a south-facing garden, whilst others prefer a more consistent, northerly aspect. Taking this into account when thinking about how to move plants when moving house will ensure that they have the best chance of survival once they’re in their new home.
• When is the best time to start preparing your plants? When it comes to trees and shrubs, it’s much easier to move them when they are younger. You should also consider that most plants do not take well to being ‘re-rooted’, so more established plants should be handled with extra care. Where possible, outdoor plants should be placed in a dry, sheltered area ahead of the move. Depending on the variety and time of year, it can also be beneficial to give larger or climbing plants a good prune ahead of time. Cutting your plants back will minimise the risk of damage, and make the process of moving easier.
• What’s the best way to pack outdoor plants? Smaller houseplants can be placed in lined, open boxes and padded with paper for protection. Larger, stable pots can be placed inside plastic bags. However when it comes to unpotted plants, the easiest way to transport them is by placing them in a lined box, with long stems or branches gently tied together for additional support. 

 After the move, your plants may still look slightly withered and tired, due to being moved and replanted, therefore there will be a period of time where they will need to recover. For many smaller plants, they can fully recover within a few weeks. For larger plants or trees, it can take months or even years for all problems caused by transplant shock to resolve. A simple case of wilting after repotting can be resolved with good care and often the plant has no residual signs of damage. Not to mention, if you follow our top tips on how to move plants when moving house, you shouldn’t run into any accidents or damages anyway.