Top Tips for Moving Plants to Your New Home

Apr 18, 2022 | Moving Tips, Packing Services

Moving plants is one of the last things that many homeowners think about when they relocate their belongings to a new home. However, some people love the beauty of their indoor and outdoor plants and may want to move them with the rest of their things.

Unfortunately, most professional movers can’t move plants. So, getting plants successfully moved is all upon the moving family themselves.

Here’s a closer look at why movers can’t move your plants and what you and your family can do to get your plants safely and cleanly moved to your new home.

Why Can’t Movers Move Plants?

Professional moving companies won’t move plants because they typically won’t survive the move. Most moving trucks aren’t temperature-controlled and the intense heat or cold that develops in a moving truck can quickly kill your plants.

Aside from plant death in unregulated temperatures, potted plants also run the risk of spilling and creating a mess of soil that could damage your other belongings during the move.

Moving Small House Plants

So, if you decide to move your small house plants, while we can’t physically help you out, we can offer some helpful tips that should keep your plants alive during the final move:

  • Keep them in their pots and place the pots in an uncovered plastic bin for transport. This prevents any lasting messes if your vehicle hits any bumps in the road.
  • Stuff the gaps between plants on the box with old newspaper to prevent as much wiggling as possible.
  • Move your plants in a personal vehicle that has excellent temperature control and air circulation.
  • If you are going on a long-distance move, and do stop for the night somewhere, take your plants in with you. Left alone in the car, any prolonged hot or cold temperatures can damage your plants.

Should You Move Large Outdoor Plants?

Although it’s a much more difficult task, some homeowners may have larger outdoor plants they want to see thriving on their new property.

If this is your situation, plan your steps well ahead of time because you’ll need to move quickly and delicately to ensure your uprooted plants survive the move.

Hydrate Prior to Uprooting

The uprooting process is one of the most dangerous parts of a move for your plants. You want to ensure they have enough moisture in the surrounding soil to survive the trip. So, the night before your move, thoroughly water the soil around the plants you’re relocating so they have water to thrive off of while they are uprooted and moved.

Uproot Carefully

When uprooting, it’s best to dig a wide area around your plant that ensures no roots are damaged in the process. Have a pot ready, because the instant you uproot the plant it will need to be transferred to the pot for your move.

Plant Quickly

Before your move, make sure you’ve planned out where each of your plants will go on your new property. If possible, have the holes for your plants already pre-dug, because the instant you arrive, you’ll want to get your plants into the ground and watered.

From here, give them time to acclimate to their new surroundings and water them every day for the first few days so they regain their strength after the move.

Element Moving Can Takes Care of the Rest

If you are planning a local or long-distance move and need help packing and moving your belongings, let our moving company in Dallas, Texas help.

While we may not move your plants, we can successfully and safely relocate your furniture, pianos, wine collections, fine art, and antiques.

Contact us today to learn more about our moving services in Dallas and get your moving date solidified on our calendar.