"Moving your plants to a new home"
So your moving and you want to take some of your favorite plants with you. Here are some tips that I found in the Garden Gate magazine that might help.
What to take...... Make a list of what you want then get realistic about what you can take. ( I dug way to many when I moved and lost a lot of my plants)
Reuse plastic pots from the nursery........most perennials will fit in 1-2 or 3 gallon pots. Clean the pots to make sure there are no pest or diseases in them.
Time to dig...... Divide the perennials you want to take and pot them up with a good all purpose potting soil rather than the garden soil it is in. Label each pot what is in it. Remember to leave a part of the plant there for the new owner. You don't want to leave and empty yard.
Get packing...... put your plants in car or truck. If truck and no cover to prevent the wind from damaging them cover them with an old sheet, tied down so it won't blow off. If moving across country make sure there in a car or van. extreme cold will damage them in winter....in summer the plants will stay cooler in your trunk.
Moisture matters.......keep your plants moist. soak each one before you load them in the car. Pack the pot in a plastic-lined boxes. If traveling for several days, have a watering can so you can water when you stop for the night.
Keep it simple....... If you can't move large plants take cuttings or save seeds.
Know the Law....... There may be restrictions on moving some plants across sate borders. Check with your State Department of Agriculture for information on what you can and can't take.
You've Arrived........ Immediately unpack the plants and set them in a shaded area You'll be susy with other tasks, but mist the leaves and water each pot to settle the roots back into the soil if they're shaken up. If it's very cold outside, or the plants are dormant, set them in a garage or shed until you can plant.
No time to stop now........ There's a lot to do when you move and you may not get to your garden right away. If you need to hold the plants more than a couple of weeks, establish a nursery. Pick an out-of-the-way spot and sink the potted plants into the ground. You can even hold them over winter this way if you have to.
I know some of you are moving and I hope this helps you move some of those plants that you don't have the heart to leave behind.
Happy Moving.
Dilly
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