Moving House? Here Is How To Decide Which Plants Are Worth The Effort
In short: Moving an established garden is a major undertaking that requires careful selection. While some plants are easily propagated or moved, others are invasive weeds or physically impossible to shift. Before you start digging, learn which specimens are worth the energy and how to transport them safely to your new home.
Before uprooting your garden, you must first determine what should stay behind. Many established gardens inadvertently harbor environmental weeds, such as morning glory, coral vine, or the creeping inch plant. Transporting these can worsen their ecological impact, so consult your local authority’s website to confirm the weed status of every plant. Furthermore, moving garden materials risks spreading invasive pests like fire ants or harmful pathogens. Always inspect roots for cleanliness and contact your local biosecurity agency if you reside in a containment zone.
Once you have cleared the legal and environmental hurdles, focus on the physical practicality of the move. Some plants, like the bird of paradise, possess deep, dense root systems that make relocation nearly impossible without heavy machinery like a bobcat. Conversely, common native plants like Lomandra hystrix are often inexpensive and simple to replace, making them poor candidates for the effort of transport. Prioritize high-value or slow-growing specimens, such as Hippeastrum bulbs, which store energy for future flowering and can be easily prepared by trimming their leaves and roots.
For larger plants, propagation is often more efficient than moving the entire specimen. Dracaenas can be cut at the base or by branch tips to create new plants, while succulents and cacti thrive from simple cuttings. Ferns, such as the kangaroo or Boston varieties, can be moved by potting them in moisture-retaining containers. If you are moving an elkhorn fern, use a sharp pruning saw to separate individual plants for mounting on a new tree. By focusing on these resilient, high-value species, you can successfully transplant the essence of your garden without the back-breaking labor of moving every single shrub.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to deconstruct an established garden when moving | Discovery | Gardening Australia
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