Transplanting our garden to another site
Good Morning,
We have lived 28 years in the same property and our garden has evolved, it wasn't planned it was created as it grew. We now will be moving to a property which was lived in by my parents. The garden there is both large and neglected. Currently repairs and structural work is being done on the property so it will be autumn time before it will be ready. I want to move our dearly loved plants to the new garden once it is cleared. We have rhododendrons, acers, bulbs, perennials, roses, perris,aquilegia, wallflowers, honeysuckle, azaleas, topiaried boxhedges,winter jasmine, mock orange, euphorbia, hostas, clematis, wild sweet peas, lilac, oh and many more. Should I start to put plants in pots after they flower? Should I try to dig up the shrubs to move in the autumn,? I really don't know where to start but know that I should be making some preparations now. Please can anyone advise and provide tips and knowledge on what I should start to do. Thank-you.
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Are your purchasers aware that this is happening? I wouldn't be impressed if I bought a house with a beautiful garden and when I came to move in it was just muck and holes.
Have you considered taking cuttings? If your new garden requires a lot of preparation, then it may not be ready for established plants and they may not be ready for it. You could have a lot of casualties. It'll take a bit longer to get going but look at the pleasure you had creating the last one.
anything you can take cuttings/divisions from take as soon as you can, get them settled in pots that way when you move house you wont be stressing them and it also takes into account any failures that will need taking again
make the buyers aware of any specimen shrubs/trees/plants that you are planning to take with you, as they are buying your house AND everything in the ground in the garden.
remember, make sure if you are lifting large specimens that you'll need a really big root ball to reduce stress on the plant, you may not be able to get pots big enough so wrap the root ball in hessian to contain the roots and soil and then wrap in plastic to help lessen water loss.
My daughter has sold their house and she has taken cuttings and put some stuff in pots . don't think she intends to take the hedge !
I can understand it's often hard to part with something that has given you both joy and memories, but transplanting a whole garden is extreme. I'd take cuttings, bulbs and collect seeds to take and potentially a few specimens which are the most important. Over 28 years I'm sure there is a whole habitat of wildlife established which depends on the wonderful garden that you created. It would be a shame to destroy that entirely.
Last edited: 10 June 2016 12:36:38
This sounds like it's a bit of a wrench for you. With the best will in the world, even if you lift every plant and blade of grass it will still not be your beautiful garden.
I inherited a garden from a lady who had to move as she was no longer able to look after it and although I'm straightening and sorting and planting new things, I'm still very much aware that I'm keeping it nice for Rosie. Hopefully your new owners will feel the same.