Transplanting yourself and your family to a new home is hard enough. Add plants to the mix, and it gets a little more challenging. But you don’t need to abandon your plants when it’s time to move. 

Here are five tips to help you move those plants to your new Tennessee home: 

1.  Check State Laws and Regulations

The plants you grew in Colorado or Missouri may not fare well in Tennessee. They may also carry pests that could be harmful to soybeans, cotton, wheat, and Tennessee's other major crops. 

The Department of Agriculture has a list of regulations covering which plants you may bring into the state. Indoor plants are generally okay, as long as you have repotted them in fresh, sterile soil. 

Some plants could be confiscated if there’s a chance they carry any of the following pests:

• Brown garden snails

• Boll weevils

• Emerald ash borers

• Fire ants

• Pine shoot beetles

Banned Plants

Several plants are banned because they’re invasive to Tennessee’s ecosystem and are known to carry harmful pests. Banned plants include:

• Tropical spiderwort 

• Autumn olive shrub

• Thorny olive shrub

• Bloodgrass

• Chinese privet shrub

• Honeysuckle 

• Purple loosestrife

• Multiflora rose

• Tropical soda apple

2.  Prep Your Plants for the Move

Pruning is an excellent way to keep your plants healthy. Remove any dead leaves, weeds, bugs, and other hindrances, so your plants are fully prepped before the move. Don’t drown your plants, but gradually add a little more water than normal, so they’ll retain it during the uprooting process. 

The next step is to pack your heavy pots and transplant your botanicals in plastic containers. You’re already going to be doing some heavy lifting, so why not make it easier on yourself? Replace old soil with fresh, sterile soil and water thoroughly. Gently press around the soil to get rid of possible air pockets. Perform a final watering to ensure the plant doesn't lose any moisture due to evaporation.

 3.  Transport Your Plants With Care

Moving by car? Never put your plants in the trunk. This could prevent them from getting the proper airflow and all that rocking could damage them during the ride. 

Load your plants last so they can be tended to first once you arrive at your new home. Pack tools such as a misting spray for hydration. If you are staying in a hotel, bring your plants inside with you -- leaving them in your vehicle overnight in extreme temperatures could kill them.

Traveling by plane? TSA guidelines allow you to bring plants as a carry-on or a checked item, as long as they fit under the seat or the overhead bin. Your plants will need to go on the conveyor belt and through the X-ray machine.

4. Home Sweet Home

When you arrive at your new home, prioritize your plants and tend to them immediately. Remove any dead appendages. New environments can be stressful, so if you see some wilting that occurred during the move, don’t panic! This is normal and means your plants need some extra TLC during this period of adjustment. 

The fun part comes next: Figure out where you want to place your plants, so your new home reflects your personality. 

If you are replacing or adding to your plants in your new home, you have plenty of native Tennessee plants to choose from, including wild geraniums and Virginia bluebells. These flowering plants will be easier to care for since they’re used to the climate and growing conditions. 

Settling into your new home often means redecorating or purchasing some new greenery as indoor plants or for your yard. This is a great excuse to visit your local nurseries and expand your gardening family. 

5.  If You Have to Say Goodbye…

Can’t take your beloved plants with you? Gift them to your family, friends, or neighbors. If you’re feeling generous, donate them to your community. Are you in a community of plant lovers? Organizing a plant swap could be a neat way to say goodbye to an old friend and make room for a new one. And don’t worry - there are so many lovely plant shops in Knoxville - you’l find some new plant babies soon!

Need more help?

We can simplify the moving process.

Call us at Help You Dwell at  (865) 245-9080 or email info@helpyoudwell.com !

Let’s get your extended consult on the calendar.

Thanks to our guest contributor Linda. Linda Zhang has moved across the country six times in the past 20 years. When she isn’t redoing one of the rooms in her own house, she is writing about home decor and other real estate issues.