House Plants
A Couple Of Weeks Before You Move
- To facilitate packing, prune plants. Consult a plant book or a florist for instructions.
A Week Before Your Move
- Your plants should be placed in a black plastic bag. Put a bug/pest strip, conventional flea collar, or bug powder in the same bag. Then close the bag and place it in a cool area overnight. This will kill any pests on the plant or in the soil.
The Day Before Your Move
- Place the plants in cardboard boxes. The plants can be held in place with dampened newspaper or packing paper. Cushion the leaves with a wet paper towel and place a final layer of damp paper towel on top to keep them moist. If you have to leave your plants behind, you can take cuttings. Put them in a plastic bag with wet paper towels around them.
On The Day Of Your Move
- The cardboard boxes should be set aside and clearly labelled “DO NOT LOAD” so they won’t mistakenly be taken on the moving van. Close the boxes and punch air holes in the top before loading them into your car.
When Moving
- In the summer, park your car in a shaded area. Likewise, in the winter, park your car in a sunny spot.
Upon Arrival
- The plants should be unpacked as soon as possible after arrival. To avoid breaking the stems, remove plants through the bottom of the box. Initially, do not expose the plants to too much sunlight. Allow them to gradually become accustomed to more light.
Garden Plants
- Learn about the climate and soils of your new home.
- Seeds should be gathered and stored in an airtight container.
- Bulbs should be dug up during their natural dormant season. Pack in a loose dry peat moss and vermiculite mixture to provide a lightweight and protective transport medium.
- Garden tools should be well maintained. Make sure to sharpen blades of clippers, lawnmowers and shears, and apply a thin coating of household or motor oil to protect the paint and metal parts. Clean and disinfect rakes, hoses and sprinklers. Household bleach can be used to disinfect a variety of items.
- Some plants can be dug up and transplanted.
