There are some plants in your backyard that might have a sentimental value. Perhaps it was a gift from a loved one, or perhaps you grew it from a seedling. Because of these reasons, perhaps you want to take the plant with you to your new home. If you plan to uproot a shrub or small tree from your garden, you need to ensure that the new owner of your property knows about it. Be sure to mention it during the inspection process. It's unlikely to influence anyone's decision, but they will certainly appreciate being informed. If the removal results in a noticeable gap in the landscape, they might wish to replace it with a plant of a similar size. You will need to prepare the plant and store it in the truck with your other possessions, ready to be planted at your new home. So how do you get a plant ready for transport?

At Your Old Home

1. Trim the outer branches and foliage to reduce the overall size of the shrub or small tree.

2. Dig a small trench around the tree and fill it with water. Once the water has drained into the soil, fill it with water again. You want to soak the plant's root ball.

3. Gently dig into the soil directly next to the plant, and prise the plant and its root ball from the ground. The water will allow the root ball to remain intact, which makes it far more likely for the plant to thrive at its new home. Do not shake the soil from the root ball.

4. Place the plant into a plastic transport pot. Fill the pot with soil from where the plant was growing and pack it in tightly. You might wish to place a wooden stake into the pot's soil and secure it to the plant with twine, so that the plant remains stable.

5. Place the pot in the moving truck. You can also put the pot inside a plastic bag, which can then be loosely tied around the plant's trunk. This means that there won't be any mess if the pot tips over during transit. If you are not travelling with your possessions and are moving interstate, please remember that the plant will need to be watered enroute if it stays out of the ground for more than a day. You might need to ask the interstate removalists to take care of this for you.

At Your New Home

1. You'll want to place the plant in your new yard as soon as possible, so you will need to dig a hole of an appropriate size. Soak the root ball before you place the tree into its new hole. This soaking will remove any air pockets that might have developed during transit. These air pockets can result in abnormal root development, meaning that the plant might not flourish in its new environment.

2. Place the tree into its new hole and loosely pack it with the soil it was transported with.

3. Add a small amount of low-nitrogen fertiliser (some manures available from your local garden centre are ideal).

4. Water the plant well, since it really needs it after that difficult experience!

Transporting a plant to your new home is not the easiest option, but sometimes it's too hard to say goodbye.

For more tips on moving specific or special items, you may want to talk with your removalists interstate. 

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