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How to move plants?

#1 · 9th February 2025, 7:54 pm

Hi Lee. I'm hoping to move house later on this year and as we've not been here long, I'd like to take some of the plants I've put in the raised bed with us. I just wanted to ask your advice on how best to do this? I wanted to dig them up and transfer them into pots, so they can be moved more easily when we move out. I know disturbing plants can stress them out or kill them, so I'm not sure they can be dug up, or what time of the year would be best to do this? They aren't too well established, as they've only been in the ground approx 18 months. A rough idea of plants I'd like to take with us are.... Kojo-No-Mai (approx 6ins high), Phormium (approx 12ins high), Fuchsia, Geums, Anemone, Pachysandra, Hebe, Rosemary and Lithodora. Thanks in advance for your help.

#2 · 14th February 2025, 2:38 pm

Quote from Lee Garden Ninja on 14th February 2025, 2:38 pm
Hi @my-tiny-garden
It's great to hear from you again, and how exciting that you're moving house! I wonder what new gardening opportunity awaits you? Be great to find out once you've moved.
A lot of gardeners, however, then suddenly dawned on the realisation that they have to leave their beloved plants behind! Or, like you are thinking, dig them up and move your plants when you move house. This is entirely doable, and I will give some advice on how and when to move plants if moving house. However, there is another issue I would like to raise first, if I may.
The biggest question I ask gardeners moving house to want to take plants is, are you really ready for the babysitting and caretaking of those plants, trees or shrubs along with all the other house moving boxes, bills to set up, furniture to move, etc?
Most people don't consider this part of home moving. To give you an example, when I moved house, I only brought with me about 10 plants. Seriously! I brought the rarest, most precious specimens but left the rest. As they are easily replaceable and I didn't have the bandwidth to be watering and then rushing to try and get them back into the ground post move. In fact, it took me about 2 years to get my garden implemented
My key tip is to take what is either highly sentimental, young (as in not fully established as they are easier to transplant) or very rare. As for everything else, I would advise you to leave the plants in situ for the new gardeners. This is because I worry that homeowners who take a lot of their plants with them are not only removing the habitat for wildlife but leaving the new potentially beginner gardener with little to work with.
As our gardens are such an essential habitat for mother nature to try and combat urban sprawl and the removal of green spaces, I'm always keen to promote leaving mature gardens so that the new homeowners, hopefully, will become gardeners. Rather than stripping them back, which can lead them down the wrong route of simply artificial turfing the lot or paving over it! Ok rant over with.
How to move plants when moving house
The best time of year to move any plant is when it's dormant in the winter, but not everyone moves house in the dead of winter, so here is some guidance.
Once you've decided which plants you're going to move, it’s time to carefully dig them up.
Water Well: Water your plants thoroughly the day before you plan to move them. This will ensure the soil is moist but not soggy, which makes it easier to lift the plants and reduces stress.
Digging Technique: Use a spade or garden fork to carefully dig around the plant, keeping as much of the root system intact as possible. Start digging about 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) away from the plant to avoid damaging the roots. For larger shrubs, you may need to dig wider and deeper.
Pot in 2lt or 5lt pots to rescue water transpiration: Pot your plants for a house move in bigger pots than you usually would. Thus, it helps protect them from drying out. Use peat-free multipurpose compost to top up the pots if needed.
Keep Roots Protected: Once you've lifted the plant from the ground, try to keep the roots as intact as possible. If the plant is in a container, carefully remove it without disturbing the root ball.
Wrap the Pots of Larger Shrubs or Trees: Wrap the pots in damp burlap, a piece of plastic, or a wet newspaper to keep them moist during transport. If you’re moving a large shrub or tree, you might want to cover the root ball with a tarp or plastic sheet to keep it from drying out.
Do let us know how you get on!
Happy Gardening.
Lee Garden Ninja

Hi @my-tiny-garden

It's great to hear from you again, and how exciting that you're moving house! I wonder what new gardening opportunity awaits you? Be great to find out once you've moved.

A lot of gardeners, however, then suddenly dawned on the realisation that they have to leave their beloved plants behind! Or, like you are thinking, dig them up and move your plants when you move house. This is entirely doable, and I will give some advice on how and when to move plants if moving house. However, there is another issue I would like to raise first, if I may.

The biggest question I ask gardeners moving house to want to take plants is, are you really ready for the babysitting and caretaking of those plants, trees or shrubs along with all the other house moving boxes, bills to set up, furniture to move, etc?

Most people don't consider this part of home moving. To give you an example, when I moved house, I only brought with me about 10 plants. Seriously! I brought the rarest, most precious specimens but left the rest. As they are easily replaceable and I didn't have the bandwidth to be watering and then rushing to try and get them back into the ground post move. In fact, it took me about 2 years to get my garden implemented

My key tip is to take what is either highly sentimental, young (as in not fully established as they are easier to transplant) or very rare. As for everything else, I would advise you to leave the plants in situ for the new gardeners. This is because I worry that homeowners who take a lot of their plants with them are not only removing the habitat for wildlife but leaving the new potentially beginner gardener with little to work with.

As our gardens are such an essential habitat for mother nature to try and combat urban sprawl and the removal of green spaces, I'm always keen to promote leaving mature gardens so that the new homeowners, hopefully, will become gardeners. Rather than stripping them back, which can lead them down the wrong route of simply artificial turfing the lot or paving over it! Ok rant over with.

How to move plants when moving house

The best time of year to move any plant is when it's dormant in the winter, but not everyone moves house in the dead of winter, so here is some guidance.

Once you've decided which plants you're going to move, it’s time to carefully dig them up.

Water Well: Water your plants thoroughly the day before you plan to move them. This will ensure the soil is moist but not soggy, which makes it easier to lift the plants and reduces stress.
Digging Technique: Use a spade or garden fork to carefully dig around the plant, keeping as much of the root system intact as possible. Start digging about 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) away from the plant to avoid damaging the roots. For larger shrubs, you may need to dig wider and deeper.
Pot in 2lt or 5lt pots to rescue water transpiration: Pot your plants for a house move in bigger pots than you usually would. Thus, it helps protect them from drying out. Use peat-free multipurpose compost to top up the pots if needed.
Keep Roots Protected: Once you've lifted the plant from the ground, try to keep the roots as intact as possible. If the plant is in a container, carefully remove it without disturbing the root ball.
Wrap the Pots of Larger Shrubs or Trees: Wrap the pots in damp burlap, a piece of plastic, or a wet newspaper to keep them moist during transport. If you’re moving a large shrub or tree, you might want to cover the root ball with a tarp or plastic sheet to keep it from drying out.

Do let us know how you get on!

Happy Gardening.

Lee Garden Ninja