Moving Your PlantsIt is critical to pack plants very carefully as they are generally not covered by insurance. Be sure to show the moving company all of your plants as plants take up a lot of room in a trailer as they cannot be stacked on top of each other and the mover needs to know this upfront. If you are planning on shipping your goods via air freight it is important to contact the airline first to understand what plants can, if any, be carried air freight. The airlines have rules and regulations regarding the transportation of plants that you will need to understand. Department of AgricultureContact the department of agriculture before moving any plants across state lines as many states have rules and regulations that Prohibit the entry of plant. This is to minimize the risk of bringing new pests in to the state which can quickly grow in numbers. Most importantly these can also destroy cash crops. House PlantsIn the weeks or even months coming up to the move take good care of your plants to ensure they are strong enough for the move. Of course you can decide to give the plants away before you move or even throw them away if you feel you cannot take them with you to your new home. If you must leave your plant, consider taking some cuttings which are small clippings of your favorite plants. Pack these in damp paper or moss and place in jiffy bags unsealed and try to include some of the original soil in the bag also. These clippings can remain like this for several days until you arrive at your new destination. You can then replant these in peat or vermiculite with plenty of water. Moving companies will generally carry plants if the distance is below 200 miles or within one days travel from destination i.e. 24 hours. Be careful if you ask the moving company to move plants in the winter of hot summer days as it can be very damaging to plants at temperatures below 35 and above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Several weeks before moving you should begin getting your plants ready for the journey by pruning them to help ease of packing and remove any straggly bits. Do not prune ferns or succulents. Different plants need to be pruned differently and it is recommended that you consult a gardening book for the correct method for pruning your plants. If necessary, re-pot plants into non-breakable plastic containers. Be sure to clean the new pots thoroughly as they may contain thriving pest communities of their own depending on what was last planted in the pot. There is nothing worse than seeing your favorite plant destroyed due to a pot breaking en route. Terra cotta pots are notoriously easy to break so treat the gently. Next, treat your plants for pests about a week before the move. You can treat them for pests by placing the plants in a large plastic bag and applying a bug strip or bug powder. Seal the bag and leave overnight to ensure a complete kill. On the day of the move place the potted plants in a large box separated by newspaper. Beforehand line the box with plants in case of a spill. Make sure you have drained off any excess water before placing the plants in the box. Tie cane to support larger plants to minimize damage and the likelihood of breaking. Regardless of your method of transportation however, the most important thing to do is keep your plants moist throughout their journey. You could place moistened newspapers around the soil and wrap this around the stalk of the plant. If you need to box your plants make sure to put some air holes in the boxes. When you are ready to remove the plants from the boxes it is recommended you do this gradually as too much sunlight too quickly may do more damage then good. House plants can survive without much light for up to one week without a negative impact if other conditions are favorable such as temperature and moisture level in the soil. Garden PlantsGarden plans are a little more difficult to move simply because you have to dig them up, move them and then replant them in your new location. Some garden plants cannot be dug up and replanted so before going to all that trouble contact your local horticulture store to get advice. It is also important to consider if the plants will even survive in their new habitat as the climate and soil may be very different to the plants preferred living conditions. There are many things that can go wrong so follow our useful advice and you should be well on your way to a glorious garden in your new home. On the day of the move dig up the garden plants being careful to dig around the roots in a circle. The root ball can be placed in a plastic bag with a pest strip. Seal the plastic bag for up to 6 to kill off any remaining pests. Make sure the soil is moist around the ball. When you arrive at your destination replant as soon as possible Check the soil ph level for acidity or alkalinity. Ph test kits can be purchased in any plant store. Add fertilizer and water to the soil around the plant regularly and allow the plants some time before it gets use to its new home. Garden Furniture and ToolsClean any tools you are planning to move with you and cover with a thin coat of oil to protect. Hose down any garden furniture you are planning to move and use bleach if necessary to remove any stubborn stains. Allow to dry completely before loading on to the moving truck. | 
