Relocating Home ... Relocating Plants?

Our home is one of the many in the I-26 expansion project that will be demolished. What are some general rules regarding the relocation of fruit shrubs, trees and hardy perennials?

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Permalink Reply by Polly McDaniel on May 20, 2009 at 9:02am

I've been through this. OK, when you own a home and you're selling it, you have to make certain stipulations with the buyers, as I did, about which plants will go with you. But in your case, no worries there. Demolition and all that.
The most obvious thing is to move the plants last. Move your home, yourself, try to get a little settled in, etc.
Then dig them up, pot them up and move them to your new house. Hopefully, you'll already have prepared beds or areas you can put them in. Or at least a semi-shaded holding area.
I tell you what. When my husband and best friends arrived at our house in the mountains with my plants -- and they were the last load to come -- I burst into tears I was so happy to see them. Moving is stressful, and these were like old friends to me. Some of them were passalong plants from dear friends and family. Some things I planted when my son was born. Some of the plants were just rare or I just loved them for whatever reason.
And many of those plants are still growing in my yard in WNC today. It can be done.
Of course you don't want to move your plants in the heat of summer. Anything between early June or late August is ill-advised. And you will have to be attentive to your transplants. Water them, multch them, etc.
One last thing: If the demolition is not going to happen for a while you have a window for transferring your garden. Don't become too complacent and forget about it, or leave it until the last minute. Good luck!