transporting-plants-in-pots-when-moving-house

SteveF

I shall be moving house in a couple of months and have a number of plants and shrubs in pots that I'lll be taking with me. In particular I have about 20 Acers (Japanese Maples) in pots. They're of varying ages and sizes ... from 18 inches to 5 feet.

How should I prepare them for the journey? I'll be using a removal firm (not spoken to one yet). I was thinking of putting the pots in bin bags and securing them to the trunk to keep any ants contained(!). Should I wrap the foliage in fleece or something similar to protect the branches?

Can anyone offer any suggestions please.

Thanks

Fairygirl

Difficult Steve. I've moved several times in the last few years and taken all sorts of plants in pots. Since your Acers would be fairly dormant when you move it won't be so bad. Probably bubble wrap or similar is the best bet to avoid too many broken branches - perhaps with a couple of canes in each pot to give a bit of structure - and wrapping the compost in plastic is what I did, but I think it depends totally on who you get to move you. If they're packed tightly together they should be reasonably stable, but I'd make sure they know you have a substantial quantity and they're important to you.  I was able to take some plants myself each time, but I think you may have to prepare yourself for the odd casualty 

Gardenmaiden

We had two water tanks planted with eight foot tall bamboos when we moved house 10 years ago as well as other plants in pots. We didn't bubble wrap any of them as we were moving less than a mile. It would be a good idea to get your removal company to come round to look at what plants you are taking with you. If you are moving further afield it would be advisable to wrap your plants in bubble wrap which we got from Staples.

 

SteveF

Thanks for the replies, Fairygirl and Gardenmaiden. Ideally I'd hire a van and move them myself if it was just a local move but as it's over 100 miles that isn't going to be practical.

Canes and bubble-wrap sounds like the way to go.

Talking with the removal men first is probably a wise move too

Thanks again

Obelixx

I moved from Harrow to Belgium and took some plants in pots with me, including an acer which was over 3' wide at the time and almost as high and a photinia daviddi "Palette" which was taller and a bit narrower.

It's best to let the removal company see the pots when they come to quote for the job and ask them about whether or not you need to pack them to protect them or whether the removal company prefers to do it.  How they're packed, and by whom, will affect the insurance policy for the removals job.