When you are preparing to move, the first thing you should consider is whether you will actually be able to dig and lift the whole plant. Larger shrubs and well established perennials such as Joe Pye Weed may be impossible for you to lift and carry. Instead, you may need to propagate babies to carry with you. Many shrubs can be reproduced by layering, which involves bending down a branch, nicking the underside where it touches the earth, and then pinning it to the ground until it develops roots. Once roots develop, sever the babies from the parent plant and let them grow on for a while before digging and moving them. If you will be moving within the year, you may want to sink pots in the ground and layer your shrubs into the pots, so that you do not disturb the new plants’ delicate roots when you sever the babies from the parent plants to move them.
If your plants are small enough for you to dig and lift, you do not need to do as much pre-planning. The first thing you should do is gather damp newspaper, boxes or milk crates, and pots. Try to dig your plants early in the morning or late at night.
Dormant tuberous plants are simple to move long distances. As you dig each plant, you can wash the dirt from the roots and wrap the roots in damp newspaper and then pack it in a box. The newspaper should not be dripping wet, but it should be damp. Newspaper that is too wet can cause the roots to rot if the plants aren’t unpacked and replanted quickly. Other plants will need their root balls to be intact, but you can also wrap root balls in damp newspaper to protect them during the move.
If you have large shrubs and perennials, they may not fit in pots. Before digging bushes, wrap their branches to keep them from breaking off. Each large plant will probably need its own box or crate. Really large plants can also be shifted on to a garbage can lid if they won’t fit in a box. Small plants can easily be potted up and watered before they are packed into the car or truck.
When you put plants in an open truck, they can lose a lot of water and become damaged from exposure to the wind. Place bushes and trees so that their root balls face the cab of the truck and their branches face the tailgate. This prevents the majority of damage from wind. Do not stand tall plants upright. They can snap off. Remember, your plants are facing winds of up to 65 miles per hour as you drive. After your plants are placed in the open truck, mist them down thoroughly and then securely cover the entire truck bed with shade cloth or a tarp. If you skip this step, stop every hour or so to check the plants and make sure they haven’t dried out too much. If they are drying out, you will need to re-mist them. The wind will really take moisture from leaves and roots.
If you are moving plants in the car, you do not need to worry quite as much about them drying out. However, you will probably find an amazing variety of spiders and insects in your car after the move. You should protect your upholstery with a tarp or old sheet to avoid soiling it with the inevitable pot spills. Wedge your plants securely, so that they do not fall over when you have to slam on the breaks or make a sharp turn. If you need to stop, be sure to crack your windows to avoid coming back to a car full of roasted perennials and shrubs.
Finally, no matter how you end up transporting your plants, make sure you do not block your ability to see other cars and trucks on the road. If your plants start to shift and obscure your vision, pull off and readjust your load. When you arrive at your new home, take a well deserved break before you begin unloading your plants.
