How To Move Plants Long Distance

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Moving long-distance across the country is already a juggling act. You have to get transportation, find movers, and pack up everything — and then there are your beloved plants to think about. You’ve spent years nurturing that towering monstera deliciosa and tending your English rose garden. At this point, your green friends are basically family! They’ve gotta come with you, right?

The good news is that moving plants cross-country is difficult but doable. And while the task is daunting, it’s possible with the right prep work. Let’s dig (pun intended) into everything you need to know about how to move plants cross-country.

Here’s a quick overview of how to move with plants:

  • Understand legal regulations and moving company rules.
  • Decide which plants to move.
  • Prepare your plants.
  • Choose a transportation method.
  • Pack the plants.
  • Care for plants on arrival.

Know the Rules: Legal & State Regulations

The transportation of plants is carefully regulated in many parts of the United States. The first step in figuring out how to move houseplants all the way across the country is to look into legal restrictions and moving company rules.

Can Movers Move Plants?

Several potted plants sit on top of packed cardboard boxes

Unfortunately, most moving truck and shipping container companies don’t transport plants. Plants are usually not allowed on a moving truck due to certain state laws and possible liability. At the end of the day, it’s just too much of a hassle for the movers to handle living things.

And don’t try to get sneaky and hide your plants among your other belongings, either. Doing so could void your contract with the long-distance movers and would invalidate any protections if the plants lead to a mess that damages your things.

That said, it’s still possible to move your plants long distances. It just requires proper planning and execution.

Moving Plants Cross-Country: The Legal Lowdown

a view of the outside of a Department of Agriculture building

You may not think moving plants across state lines comes with legal pitfalls, but it definitely does.

States that rely heavily on agriculture — specifically, California, Texas, and Florida — are very wary of allowing in any pests or invasive species of plants that could destroy crops. Several have strict regulations around bringing in plants from out of state. California, for example, doesn’t allow you to bring any type of citrus plant from another state. Florida also prohibits citrus unless you have a special permit.

The United States Department of Agriculture even bans the transport of certain plant pests, including witchweed. If you really want to know all the rules, you can check out the USDA’s full list of regulated plants within all 50 states and U.S. territories.

 

“Once it’s time to dig those plants out of your old garden, you’ll want to be careful not to dig too near the base of the plant…[i]nstead, dig a ring around and a bit away from the main stem of your plant…[f]or larger plants, the ring should be at least 6 inches deep.”

 

Because the rules for each state are different, you’ll need to research which states you’re traveling through and ensure you don’t risk having your plants confiscated at border checkpoints. Some states allow you to bring in plants that exclusively grow indoors, but may require you to repot them with sterile soil before moving. Others may require a certificate of inspection or have you quarantine your plants before bringing them home.

Contact these departments for each state you’re passing through to check for the restrictions, permits, and inspections you may need when moving plants across state lines.

Here are a few best practices for moving plants cross-country, no matter the destination state:

  • Get familiar with the restricted plants list specific to your destination. You can typically find this on the state government website, usually under the local Department of Agriculture branch.
  • Inspect and clean plants to make sure they’re free of pests and soil-borne diseases.
  • Repot plants in new, sterile soil.

Decide Which Plants Should Make the Trip

moving with plants

Once you figure out which plants you can legally move, it’s time to consider each one individually. After all, not all plants can or should be transported.

Here’s how to decide which plants should come with you to your new home:

  • Check the destination environment. Only move plants that can survive and thrive in your new climate.
  • Think about your new outdoor space. Is there a spot for the plant? Does it have the conditions — shade, sunlight, soil type, etc. — to survive?
  • Evaluate plant age and health. For the best chances of survival, take only hearty and healthy plants. It may sting, but it’s a good idea to leave older or fragile plants behind.
  • Consider the practicalities. Make sure you have the time and space to dig up, pot, and transport plants. It may not be feasible to bring large plants with you.
  • Plan for seasonality. The best time to move plants is during the spring or fall when the weather is mild. If you’re moving in the summer or winter, take only the plants that can withstand extreme temperatures.

What do you do with the plants you can’t bring? No proud plant parent wants to say goodbye to their collection, but that may be what you have to do. Spend some time finding them a good home by donating them to friends and family, users on PlantSwap, or people on sites like Facebook Marketplace.


Prepare Your Plants for the Move

A young woman puts plants into the back of a car

Once you’ve decided which plants are worth taking, it’s time to get them ready. A quick drive across town might not require much more than careful packing, but longer moves need a bit more preparation to keep your plants healthy and safe along the way.

If you’re planning a long-distance move, it’s important to prepare your plants properly:

  • Water your plants a couple of days before the move. This means they’ll be hydrated but not waterlogged for the move. The last thing you want is a sloppy, muddy mess that gets everywhere inside your vehicle.
  • Inspect your plants for pests or dead leaves, and prune them. Doing this will minimize the risks of damage during your move.
  • Nestle smaller plants together in a box in their original planters. Use crumpled paper, dividers, or bubble wrap to prevent them from clinking together or moving around. Wine shipping boxes are also great for this — just be sure to leave the top open for adequate airflow.
  • Use clean, sterilized pots, even if not required by law. This is good practice in general for the health of your plants.
  • Pack fragile plants with plenty of room for airflow. This helps prevent traumatic experiences for your plant.
  • Move larger plants to plastic pots. You’ll reduce weight and potentially avoid broken pots. Want to avoid plastic? Use a lightweight, eco-friendly planter. Consider covering the top of the planter with cardboard or a burlap bag to prevent the soil from spilling when things get jostled around.
  • Transfer your plants to their containers a couple of weeks ahead of the move. You want to give them enough time to adjust to their temporary housing and ensure the moisture level is just right.

How To Move Plants From a Garden

moving a garden

If you’re relocating the plants you’ve grown in your own garden, you’ll need to do a bit of extra legwork. Transferring plants from the ground to containers can be a shock, so it’s important to prepare them for the trip.

Here’s how to prepare garden plants for moving:

  • Allow for several days of generous watering. Be careful not to overwater. Too much water in the soil can prevent plants from soaking up critical oxygen through their roots.
  • Dig around the drip line. Once it’s time to dig those plants out of your old garden, you’ll want to be careful not to dig too near the base of the plant. Tearing or shredding the flesh of the roots is unhealthy for the plant. Instead, dig a ring around and a bit away from the main stem of your plant, carefully paying attention to any roots you may find. For larger plants, the ring should be at least 6 inches deep.
  • Maintain the original soil. Don’t shake or remove any soil from the root ball since this is some of the best protection for your plant during the move.
  • Contain plants correctly. As you dig up and remove each plant from the ground, waste no time transferring them to the pots, buckets, or burlap you’ll be transporting them in. Remember that you’ll need to keep everything adequately watered, so a pot or tub will keep your burlap-wrapped friend from leaking all over your car!

Choose the Right Method of Transportation

Choosing a transportation method is an important part of figuring out how to move plants cross-country. The most common options are:

  • Car. Put your plants in boxes, and place them on your car seats.
  • Rental truck. Pack plants into the cab of your moving truck.
  • Mail. It’s a little complicated to learn how to ship plants when moving, but it’s possible as long as you follow the carrier’s rules.
Method Pros Cons
Car  

  • Affordable
  • Easy to control the temperature
  • Easy watering
  • Limited space
  • Potential for a mess
Rental Truck
  • Lots of space
  • No temperature control
  • Possible plant damage due to movement
Mail
  • Saves space
  • Convenient
  • Rules and restrictions
  • Higher cost

Pack Plants Properly

As we stated, moving companies don’t usually transport plants (but it’s worth asking). So, in most scenarios, you’ll be moving them yourself.

How to Prep Plants for Different Vehicles

A potted plant sitting on the front seat of a car secured by a seatbelt

Here are some prepping tips, depending on how you’re getting to your new home, since the type of vehicle you use will impact how you pack and care for your plants along the way.

For Cars

  • Pack with care: Don’t seal them in a box! They need space, especially for fragile or temperature-sensitive plants. In some cases, you may want to place them in front where you can control the climate. And be sure to keep them out of the trunk, where airflow is limited.
  • Secure plants carefully: Again, you want to avoid much movement. Use seat belts to keep the plants in place. Or, if that’s not feasible, use ropes, string, or bungee cords.
  • Avoid open vehicles: It may be tempting to throw ‘em all in the back of your truck, but heavy winds and bad weather can damage plants — especially over a long time. Do yourself a favor and keep them in a covered space.
  • Consider your fragile or sensitive plants: Some of your green friends may be particular about temperature. They should go in the front, where there’s access to A/C or heat, and the driver can keep an eye on them.
  • Keep an inventory: If you have a lot of plants, you may want to keep a list of them all. This makes tracking their needs and locations easier.

For Rental Trucks

  • Store in the front cabin only: As you would in a car, place plants in the front cabin where they’ll get proper airflow and sunlight. Keep in mind that rental companies like U-Haul may even provide plastic bins to help contain any mess.
  • Clean carefully: Remember that U-Haul, Penske, and Budget Truck Rental have cleaning fees if your plants leave a mess. However, U-Haul is a little vague with its cleaning fee policy, and Budget simply claims a “reasonable fee.”

How to Prep Plants for Shipping in the Mail

polymer crystals in a gardening pot

If it’s not possible to personally drive your plants to your new destination, you’re not totally out of luck.

Believe it or not, the second-best option when moving plants across the country is to mail them. It’s not ideal since you can’t directly control how they’re handled or allow them to get water and sunlight while in transit. However, you can take steps to minimize the risks.

First, choose a fast shipping option to reduce the time in transit, but not so fast that your plants arrive at your new home before you do. And be prepared for higher shipping costs.

Here’s how to pack plants for shipping:

  • Remove the pot. Trim the roots, wrap them in a few wet paper towels, seal them with a plastic bag, and place them in a box. For longer trips, add a couple of teaspoons of polymer moisture crystals to water and apply this slurry to the roots before wrapping them in plastic. You can also loosely roll the plant in newspaper before packing it to help protect the stems and leaves.
  • Pack securely. The box you choose should be sturdy but not too roomy, as you don’t want the plant to bounce around inside. You should fill every empty space around the plant with newspaper and bubble wrap to ensure it stays secure. You can also put a “fragile,” “live plant,” or “this end up” label on the box (even better, all three) so handlers know to be careful.
  • Timing is key. Ship it at the beginning of the week. Much of the USPS doesn’t operate on weekends, increasing the odds your plants will sit in a dark room for a couple of days. Additionally, check the weather for the day of your box’s arrival so your beloved plant doesn’t freeze or wilt.
  • Note any restrictions. The law is still the law. Be sure you’re following the regulations for shipping plants in the mail.

Care for Plants When You Arrive

As soon as you arrive at your new home, you’ll have a hundred things to do. But keep in mind, unlike your flat-screen TV or dining table, plants can wilt and die. It’s important to sort out your garden and replant as quickly as possible.

  1. Get planting spots ready: Be sure to have your plants’ new homes ready to go before you take them out of their old ones. The less time your flowers and plants spend in limbo, the better.
  2. Use enough soil for transplants: If you’re transplanting from smaller pots to bigger ones, put lots of soil at the bottom and have more on hand to fill in the extra space around the edges.
  3. Prep the ground properly: If you’re planting directly into the ground, make sure each new hole is big enough, and water it thoroughly before you pull anything from its pot. Pack the soil solidly, but not so much that the water runs off and away.

Water generously in hot weather: If you can’t help but exercise your green thumb in the heat of summer, douse your freshly dug holes with even more water before transferring those plants. The roots will need lots of moisture to mitigate the shock of being uprooted and exposed to the hot air and sun.


Pro Tips for a Smooth Plant Move

several potted plants of many different species are lined up on a shelf

Ready to hit the road with your garden? Use these tips to keep your plant family happy and healthy during the drive to your new home:

  • Use plastic bins and trays to prevent leaks. You’re going to want to water your plants during the move, and all that moisture has to go somewhere. Place your pots in plastic bins or trays to keep moisture off your car seats.
  • Make a plant care kit. Be prepared to keep your plants safe on the drive by packing extra bubble wrap, a small pair of pruning shears, and plenty of water. It can’t hurt to bring some extra soil and a few extra pots in case of breaks or cracks.
  • Time your drive carefully. Heat can stress your plants, so try to travel before noon or in the early evening to keep temperatures in check.
  • Ventilate the car. Plants need plenty of fresh air, so consider cracking a window every so often. This is easy to forget, especially if you’re traveling in hot or cold weather, but it makes a big difference.
  • Download apps in advance. Download a few plant-care apps to your phone to help you handle any issues during your trip. Great options include Planta, Plant Parent, and Pl@ntNet.
  • Think before leaving plants in the car overnight. Staying at a hotel along the way? Bring your plants with you if you expect the temperature to change dramatically overnight. If the weather is consistent, crack two windows to allow ample airflow.

Learning how to move plants cross-country requires quite a few details, but it’s completely doable. By carefully choosing which plants to take and going the extra mile to prepare and transport them correctly, you can ensure they arrive safely in your new city. And with your new place filled with your old friends, it will start to feel like home before you know it.

How To Move a Greenhouse to a New Home

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Most people who move have to pack and transport belongings and memories from just their homes. If you have a greenhouse on your property, you need to decide what to do with a whole other structure.

Should you move your greenhouse with you, or should you build a new one? Can you even move a greenhouse to begin with?

Yes, you can move it, and there are many reasons why that might be a better option than building a new one from scratch.

  • It’ll save you money: Greenhouse materials can be expensive, and you’ll have to buy new high-quality parts when you already have them literally right in your backyard. Moving your conservatory can save you the cost of these materials.
  • It’s sustainable: Reusing material you already own minimizes waste and reduces consumption. It’s good for the environment!
  • It’ll save you time: You won’t have to start from scratch with a new blueprint, new plants, and new materials. You’ll have most of your greenhouse items with you and can recreate its current layout in your new home.
  • It’ll preserve its sentimental value: You’ve spent months, maybe even years, giving your beloved plants some TLC — it’s only natural you don’t want to leave them behind. Moving your greenhouse means you don’t have to.

Read on for the lowdown on all things greenhouse, from the supplies you need when taking it down to the permits you need at its final destination.


Prepare the Greenhouse for Moving

Collect the tools and supplies you’ll need

a man carries some of the tools needed to move a greenhouse, like a small spade and bucket, in a wooden box.

There are different parts to moving a greenhouse, and you’ll need different tools to carefully take them apart and pack them for your move. Here’s a checklist of the basic items you need:

For the greenhouse structure

  • Pair of pliers
  • Flat and crosshead screwdrivers
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Short ladder to reach the roof
  • Containers to gather brackets, clips, nuts, and bolts
  • Masking tape
  • Marker

For the plants

  • Hand shovel
  • Burlap bags, plant pots, buckets, or trash bags
  • Extra potting soil

Personal protective equipment

  • Thick gloves
  • Safety glasses
  • Sturdy shoes or boots

Packaging materials

  • Bubble wrap, foam padding, and foam corners to safeguard fragile components, especially glass panes
  • Rope to secure them

Document what your greenhouse structure looks like

Make detailed notes of your greenhouse before removing anything to make reassembling it easier. You can draw a rough sketch of the floor plan that maps out where each plant goes.

Take photos of the general shape of the greenhouse from different angles to document what the final structure looks like. Then zoom in and photograph the joints so you know where the nuts and bolts fit together.

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Clear out everything from inside

Start with items that are easy to remove and work your way to heftier things. Remove any small, unsecured items like tools, heaters, and fertilizer bags. Next, move out the heavier mobile items like pots, shelves, and benches. Then comes the turn of secured items like lightning and shades.

Once you have the accessories out of the way, it’s time to focus on the plants.

Remove and prep your plants for moving

a gardener transplants a fern into a pot so it's ready to move from a greenhouse

Changing a plant’s environment — even temporarily during transport — can cause distress. To make the journey easier on them, trim dying or surplus stems from any plants that need it before you dig them up.

When digging up plants, take special care not to damage the roots — use a hand shovel to dig a ring around the plant’s main stem, following the roots’ position in the drip line. Keep the soil around the roots intact.

 

“…most moving companies won’t transport potted plants with soil. They’re delicate and messy, and if you’re moving interstate, there are multiple state laws to take into account.”

 

Place the plant in a bucket, pot plant, or burlap bag for transport. You can then place the relocated plant in a trash bag so that loose soil doesn’t spill all over your vehicle.

To learn more about how to move your plants safely, including watering and re-planting recommendations, check out our guide for how to move your garden.


How To Dismantle a Greenhouse

an older man and woman work on removing the glass from the side of a greenhouse

Start with the roof and work your way down

You’ve cleared out the movable items, and now it’s time for the heavy lifting. It’s possible to do this yourself, but it’s not the best idea. Having someone to hand off panes to will make your job much easier and safer.

  • First, remove the glass or polycarbonate panes from the roof and then tackle one wall at a time. As you remove the panes, use masking tape and marker to label where they came from — north, south, east, or west walls, and roof.
  • Clips, brackets, nuts and bolts are easy to lose, so put them in a bucket or trash bag immediately.
  • Clear moss off any panes before taking them out. The last thing you want is to lose your grip and drop them! You can scrape off dead moss using your screwdriver or a plastic spatula. Fresh moss needs to be sprayed with moss killer first and scraped off after 15 minutes. If you’d rather not use harsh chemicals from a store-bought product, a dish soap and warm water mix will also help, though it might take longer.
  • Next, take the door off its hinges (or brackets, if it’s a sliding door) and then move on to the roof vents.
  • When you’re left with just the greenhouse frame, try to keep as much of it intact as you can. Instead of detaching each beam, keep each wall or roof frame in one piece if your greenhouse is small enough to do so. This will make reassembling it easier in your new home. Don’t forget to use masking tape and mark each frame too!

Protect and pack the different components for transport

While this video shows a glass tabletop, the same process applies to glass panes in a greenhouse.

It’s not just bumps on the road during transport that can break glass — prolonged vibrations between panes of glass can also damage them if there’s direct contact. You can place bubble wrap or foam padding between the glass sheets and use foam corners to protect them.

You could add an extra layer of protection and wrap each pane and padding item with packing paper. Label each one with ‘Fragile – Glass’ to prepare for loading onto the truck.

 

“You should also check if your Homeowners Association has any specific rules or requirements for greenhouses and comply with those. You don’t want to get into a scuffle with your new neighbors!”

 

Polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than glass, so you don’t have to worry about breakage en route. You can place thinner sheets of packing paper between polycarbonate panes to shield them from scratches.

The frame, thankfully, is less prone to breakage. Use the bubble wrap or foam padding on the corners of your frames to protect other items they might come into contact with on the journey.


How To Transport a Greenhouse

a man and a woman check plants they've unloaded from a rented moving van

Consider hiring professional movers

Here’s the not-so-great news — most moving companies won’t transport potted plants with soil. They’re delicate and messy, and if you’re moving interstate, there are multiple state laws to take into account. You can always ask, but be prepared to make your own arrangements. Check out our blog post to know your options for how to move your plants long distance.

The actual components of your conservatory? Those are fair game. You can hire professional movers to transport the panes and frames. They’ll have the equipment you need to secure the parts in the truck and transport them safely.

Safely load and secure greenhouse parts

You’ve already packed your greenhouse glass (or polycarbonate) panes safely. Now it’s time to load them onto the moving truck.

Stack them vertically or diagonally in the truck so that each pane is only bearing its own weight. Use rope to secure the panes to the truck so that they don’t shift or bounce during transport. Secure the frames to the truck as well to avoid them tipping over and breaking the glass.

Keep road regulations in mind and plan your route

an interstate surrounded by greenery

If you’re bringing any plants with you in your car or rental truck, you’ll need to carefully map out your route to ensure you’re allowed to take those plants through a state you’ll be driving through.

Check the Department of Agriculture website for each state on your route or the National Plant Board website before you hit the road. If you have any prohibited plants that are allowed at your final destination, you’ll either have to go around that state or ship those plants by mail through UPS, USPS, or FedEx. Check the guidelines for these companies too before you pack up the plant and send it on its way.


Set Up Your Greenhouse in Your New Home

a greenhouse being built

Find a spot with ideal sunlight exposure

If it’s possible, observe the sun’s movement across your garden throughout the day to find a spot that gets plenty of sunlight for a long time. Make sure you place it a safe distance away from the shade of tall trees — not only do they block direct sunlight, their branches pose a risk to the glass if they fall right on the greenhouse.

Check local climate and weather

Unless you’re moving a short distance away, you might have questions about which plants will survive the move with you. The answer lies in their hardiness, or what cold weather and low temperatures they can withstand. This is not an abstract concept — the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map can help you figure out whether your plants will thrive in their new environment.

 

“As you remove the panes [from your greenhouse], use masking tape and marker to label where they came from — north, south, east, or west walls, and roof.”

 

Your plant tags should state their hardiness zones. If you don’t still have the tags, you can look up your zone by zip code to find plants that will survive in that zone.

And the plants that don’t make the cut? You’ll have to find them a new home locally.

Consider soil and drainage options

a raised bed greenhouse
an example of a greenhouse with raised beds

You can grow your plants directly in the ground, or using pots or raised plant beds, or a combination of the two.

For pots and plant beds, head to your nearest home goods or gardening store and buy the potting soil and fertilizer your plants need.

For plants that will grow directly in the ground, the soil in your garden will need to be suitable for them to flourish. Your local extension office is an excellent resource to help with all things gardening, including answering your burning questions about specific soil, drainage, weeds, and landscaping. Ask them about soil testing to discover your garden soil’s nutrient levels and how acidic it is.

Your greenhouse needs to be on level ground to avoid drainage problems like water pooling after watering your yard or heavy rain. If the ideal spot is on uneven ground, you’ll have to level the land before you build.

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Comply with legal and regulatory requirements

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all checklist as to what regulations, permits, and codes you need to have in place before building a greenhouse in your new home. These vary from state to state, and you’ll need to check with the local authorities in your region for what’s applicable to you.

  • Zoning permit: Your local zoning department will issue this permit that regulates how many accessory buildings, such as greenhouses or conservatories, storage sheds, swimming pools, gazebos, detached garages, etc. you can build and where on the property you can build them.
  • Building permit: Your local building department will issue this permit to ensure your greenhouse complies with safety standards. It assesses the structural integrity of your greenhouse and how it looks, including its size and height.

You should also check if your Homeowners Association has any specific rules or requirements for greenhouses and comply with those. You don’t want to get into a scuffle with your new neighbors!

Lastly, don’t forget about the Environmental Protection Agency. You don’t need a permit from them, but keep in mind the EPA’s best practices to prevent pollution.

  • Store fuel, wood waste, fertilizer, or pesticides contained and far away from streams, springs, creeks, lakes, ponds, etc. on your property.
  • Design your greenhouse to work well with efficient watering and drip irrigation systems. If you can, separate and disinfect wash water or wastewater for reuse.

You can find more information on the EPA’s website.


With your greenhouse built to code and plants re-homed, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You can replace any plants you couldn’t bring with you to have a full, flourishing greenhouse to enjoy once again.

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