The Best Way to Move Your Plants Between Homes

Relocating your family to a new home is already a big task, so bringing your cherished plants along can seem overwhelming! Managing the logistics of moving is challenging enough, and if you’re a plant lover like me the thought of safely transporting your beloved companions adds yet another layer of complexity. But don’t worry, you won’t have to leave your plants behind! Help You Dwell has put together a few of our essential tips to ensure your plants make the move safely and thrive in their new home.

First and foremost, if you're moving to a different state, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the local laws and regulations, particularly if you're transporting outdoor plants or trees. This is especially important because outdoor plants and trees can carry pests and diseases that might not be present in your new state. Different states have specific regulations to prevent the spread of these potential threats to their local ecosystems. Ensuring compliance with these regulations not only helps protect your new environment but also ensures that you avoid any legal complications or fines associated with non-compliance. Checking these rules in advance will make your move smoother and more stress-free!

The National Plant Board provides a comprehensive list of each state’s most recent regulations for you to review. Ensuring compliance with your new state's regulations can help prevent any issues during the move.

Most indoor plants are generally okay as long as you have re-potted them in fresh, sterile soil. This is also an excellent time to inspect your plants to prevent the spread of insects, diseases, and other pests into your new state.

Now is an ideal time to give your plants some extra care before relocating them. Pruning is highly recommended as it helps maintain their health and vitality. The Home Depot provides an excellent and comprehensive guide on how to prune all different types of plants. Take the time to remove any dead leaves, weeds, and pests to ensure your plants are in top condition for the move.

As moving day approaches, gradually increase the amount of water you give your plants. Be careful not to overwater them, but a bit of extra moisture will help them stay hydrated during the transition.

Moving homes is no easy task, and you're already going to be doing some heavy lifting, so why not make it easier on yourself? Help You Dwell always recommends packing your heavy pots and transplanting your plants into plastic containers that are easier to move. This is also the ideal time to replace old soil with fresh, sterile soil.

Travelling by car?

Avoid placing your plants in the trunk, as it restricts airflow and the constant movement can damage them. Instead, load your plants into the car last, ensuring they can be tended to first when you arrive at your new home. Bring along tools like a misting spray to keep them hydrated. If you have to stay overnight at a hotel, make sure to bring your plants inside with you; leaving them in the car can expose them to extreme temperatures, which could be fatal.

Traveling by plane?

Good news! TSA guidelines allow you to bring plants as either carry-on or checked items, provided they fit under the seat or in the overhead bin. Just remember that your plants will need to go through the X-ray machine on the conveyor belt before making it onto the plane.

As soon as you arrive at your new home, make sure to prioritize your plants and give them immediate attention. Start by carefully unpacking them and placing them in a suitable spot with the right amount of light and temperature. Next, inspect each plant thoroughly for any signs of damage, such as broken stems or crushed leaves, and remove any dead or damaged parts that may have been affected during the move.

It's common for plants to experience stress in a new environment, so don't be alarmed if you see some wilting or drooping. This reaction is normal and signals that your plants need some extra care while they acclimate to their new home. Ensure they are well-watered, but be careful not to overwater them.

Additionally, consider giving them a light misting to help them retain moisture. Keep an eye on their progress over the next few days and continue to provide them with the care they need to thrive. With a little patience and attention, your plants will adjust to their new surroundings and continue to bring life and beauty to your home.

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, check out your state’s native plants! In beautiful East Tennessee there are plenty to choose from, including Tennessee Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, and of course the Flowering Dogwood. Check out a comprehensive list here!

Settling into your new home often means redecorating and possibly adding some new greenery, both indoors and in your yard. This transition is the perfect opportunity to visit local nurseries and expand your plant and garden family. Not only can you find plants that will thrive in your new environment, but you can also gain inspiration and advice from local experts.

One of our favorite local spots is Stanley’s Greenhouse. They offer an expansive selection of plants, from vibrant indoor foliage to hardy outdoor varieties. Whether you're looking for low-maintenance houseplants, colorful flowers for your garden, or unique plant vessels to match your new décor, Stanley’s Greenhouse has it all. Their knowledgeable staff can help you choose the right plants for your home and provide tips on how to care for them. So, take this opportunity to explore Stanley’s Greenhouse and add some fresh, beautiful greenery to your new home!

Ready to make your move with confidence and keep your beloved plants thriving?

Let Help You Dwell assist you every step of the way, contact us today for expert tips and personalized moving support!

5 Ways to Make Moving Less Stressful

Most people prefer comfort and routine. We build our lives around convenience and always strive to find the easy way out of demanding situations. Nonetheless, life often has a way of challenging us with overwhelming tasks, and moving is among the most common ones. While, in most cases, there is no avoiding it, there are ways to make moving less nerve-wracking. Packing your entire life and relocating to an environment where everything is unfamiliar can take a tremendous toll on your emotional well-being. Because of that, it is not something you should take lightly. These 5 ways to make moving less stressful can help you keep your sanity through the process and maybe even find some joy in it.

Make moving less stressful by planning

The key to tackling any major task is thorough planning. Although this step is often unjustly neglected, its benefits are undeniable. Even if planning is not your forte, know that winging a complex project is seldom a good idea. Putting everything on paper can help you visualize and conquer the most dreadful and headache-inducing issues. Whether you decide to write down some basic steps on a post-it note or do an entire inventory of your home, remember the more organized you are, the smoother the transition will be.

Dedicating each day to packing a different room or doing a few smaller tasks is a smart way to start. Putting together a to-do list will ensure you don't forget anything along the way. Additionally, checking off the tasks you've finished will give you a sense of achievement and a burst of encouragement that will help you power through. Oh, and make sure to gather all the moving supplies before you start doing anything - this alone should dial down the stress significantly.

Get some help

When trying to make moving less stressful, one thing many people decide to do is hire professional help. These days you can find anything from packing assistants to professional organizers and movers. Whether you're too busy to deal with the moving process on your own or preoccupied with kids and pets, hiring professional assistance will surely take an enormous load off your back.

However, since moving is by itself already a bank-breaking experience, it's understandable if you can't or don't want to splurge on added luxuries such as professional movers. Still, don't despair. The next best option is your friends and family! You might have to bribe them with cookies or dinner, but your move is guaranteed to be less stressful and more entertaining. Just make sure not to get distracted by reminiscing about the happy memories you've collected in your old place.

Pack mindfully

One of the biggest reasons why people consider moving stressful is the fact that they have to deal with a lot of things. Just think about it - you have to pack, protect, transport, unpack, sort, clean, it's no wonder you're overwhelmed! There is, however, a simple solution to this predicament. Downsizing your possessions while packing will immensely alleviate your headaches. Going through the trouble of packing things you don't use or need is pointless and potentially expensive.

If you're struggling to find the courage to get rid of some of your belongings, remember that doing so will save you time, energy, and resources. And if that isn't enough, know that your donations will help those in need, and you'll use fewer supplies which will make your move greener, so you can relocate and be kind to the environment at the same time. You'd be surprised how much single-use trash one move can create, so working toward a green relocation is something to be proud of. You might even earn a few bucks if you decide to sell some of your belongings. It's a win-win situation either way!

Keep it clean 

Another way to make moving less stressful is to stay on top of cleaning. Not many things are as frustrating as thinking you've finished all the work, only to realize you have yet to clean the entire house. If you leave cleaning for the last minute, you risk doing more work as days of accumulated dust, dirt, and trash are much harder to deal with, especially when you're already exhausted. Instead, try to clean as you go. If needed, wash things before packing and clean any mess you make right away. Once you're finished with a room, make sure to vacuum, mop, and do anything else necessary. Not only will this speed up the packing process, but your move-in will flow much smoother as well. Remember that a few smaller tasks are always less of a burden than one huge task. Your future self will be thankful!

Be kind to yourself 

Moving is a process you probably want to be over with as soon as possible. It's understandable considering lots of nuisances and hard work you have to deal with while knowing there's a new house waiting to become a home on the other side. However, this is not the time to neglect your health, as this can only make the process longer and more strenuous. No matter how much work there is still to be done, always make time for good sleep, healthy food, and plenty of self-care.
Since cooking is likely not something you will want to do every day, consider meal planning. This will ensure you have access to balanced meals without going through the hassle of thinking about what to eat and how to make it. Reward yourself when you finish stressful tasks by recharging your batteries. Whether it's a walk in the park, a movie with your loved ones, or a delectable dessert you've been craving, these small pleasures will keep the stress at bay and help you keep going.

While there is no guarantee that you will be able to avoid stress entirely, applying these ways to make moving less stressful can't hurt. Pressure and anxiety are a big part of our life, and it's crucial to try to minimize them when possible. Just remember no situation is permanent and that good things are waiting for you once the stress passes.

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Interested in some hands on help purging, packing, and prepping for your move?
We always begin with an extended move management consult.

Is your storage unit the best investment?

We get it. Sometimes life comes at you in ways you never imagined and you find yourself needing to make a quick move either to a smaller place or for a short period of time. Storage units can be the best route if you don't have a family member or friend to let you store your extra stuff while your in transition. BUT......

this blog is for all of you that don't fit into that category. : )

Today, storage units can range anywhere from $40/mo up to $400/mo depending on how big and how nice a unit is. At first, this can be easily added into the budget for some folks. Others, it's a bit of a stretch. Oftentimes, it all makes sense to store that piece (you really don't like) from your grandma or the dining room table and 6 chairs that you used at your first house but don't need now or the really nice bed frame you hope to use someday but haven't yet because it never seems to match the style of your current home. But then you do the math. Say you've had the unit 4 years now. And say you're just paying the average price of a unit in Knoxville, TN which is about $90/mo. That is $4320. Yes, Four-Thousand Three-Hundred and Twenty dollars.  Woah.

Like we said earlier, you may have very good reason to need that extra space for a transition period. We get it. But, if the "transition period" has lasted so long that you don't really remember what's in the unit, it might be time to reconsider that extra monthly expense. 

HYD would love to help. As you've heard us say before, taking someone along when you're ready to find new homes for items you no longer need is definitely the way to go. If you've got a friend ready and willing, grab 'em and go for it! If not, HYD would be honored to be that helping hand as you decide the best way to find the right spot for all those items in your storage unit. Who knows? Some of it might be just what you need in your current space but you'd just forgotten you had it! We can help with that too!

Don't let another month go by spending money that could be much better spent on family, friends, travel, and life that you can enjoy! Make a valuable investment of a bit of your time and a small investment in HYD services and enjoy the freedom from the monthly storage expense as well as the peace of mind that comes with letting go of items you don't need and others do.

Helpful Resources

This week we wanted to give you a closer look at some of the most helpful local resources for all of your purging, organizing and styling needs. We have amped up our "Resources" portion of the website and wanted to share with you. Consider the links below as "tools" in your tool belt of organization. This page is actively updated as we learn about new services available in our area...so stay tuned! These are just a few highlights from our full resources page.

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DONATION SPOTS

• Goodwill : There are plenty of locations all around Knoxville. An organization that helps fund job training programs for East TN is something we can gladly get behind.

• YWCA : They serve a wide variety of individuals from middle school girls and boys to women of all ages. A current "wish list" can be found on their website.

• Angelic Ministries : Located in north Knoxville, they accept any furniture, clothing, or household items in good condition. Ongoing needs include twin mattresses, box springs and bed linens.

• Ladies of Charity : This is another north Knox donation spot that accepts items ranging from clothing to household items to furniture. If you're unable to physically move your furniture, they'll arrange to come and get it from your home.

STORAGE & MOVING

• Knoxville Box and Container, Inc : We can't speak highly enough of this local company that is committed to delivering quality products with unmatched customer service. Give them a call with your box and container needs.

• Moretz Moving : Are you or someone you love moving soon? These are the folks to call; trusted and dependable. They also offer a free estimate!

TECHNOLOGY LIFE-SAVERS

• Neighborhood Nerds : General computer help for your families technology issues. They help with phones, desktops and laptops. Their team is passionate about teaching you to use your technology well.

• HappyMac : Local company you can count on with all of your Apple products. HappyMac team members really know the ins and outs of your favorite and most used products- after all they have been servicing Knoxville since 1994.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

• Fleetwood Photo & Digital : Need your old family photos or home videos archived? They can do it. They turned old forgotten pages of recipes into a beautifully bound cookbook for one of our clients. 

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Knoxville is fortunate to have local organizations that make great use of our outdated or excess treasures. And we are huge fans of the local companies that provide the service and supplies we need to carry out our organizing jobs for our clients. 

We hope that some of these resources will give you the direction you need to get going on your next project! 

Packing up the Memories

There often comes a time in all our lives or our loved one's lives when we have to say goodbye to the place we've called home.

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This is never an easy transition for multiple reasons. In this particular case, the homeowner needed assistance with everyday life and wasn't able to live on her own any longer. Not being able to take much with her, her daughter and son-in-law have been left with the task of clearing out the remaining items from her former home. However, they have busy lives of their own both working and raising two active school age children. After almost 6 months of the condo sitting untouched, waiting to be gone through, HYD got the call to help.

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This situation is all too familiar to so many folks. A parent's home filled with memories, trinkets, collections, photographs, furniture (both valuable and not), attics, that are so overwhelming to go through. In this case, we've been able to go through every cabinet, dresser drawer, bookshelf, box, closet, trunk, and room to categorize, label, box up, and create order so that when the daughter and son-in-law come, they can easily decide what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate. 

HYD feels honored to be trusted with such an important job which is why we take such care with each object we touch, paper we read, photo we categorize, and memory we help to preserve. It all stays confidential and our clients can feel safe knowing that we will find the right home(s) for any items they choose not to hold on to.

This particular homeowner is a very talented artist. We thought you'd enjoy just a few treasures we found as we organized her belongings. The first is her "Ideal Wardrobe" handmade book from the late 1940s. The latter photos are just a couple of the many wonderful sketches and prints we found. Enjoy...

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Thanks so much for coming along with HYD as we journey through our clients' stories and memories. It is a job we cherish and look forward to each day. If you have any questions or interest in learning how we might help you or a loved one with transitioning into a new home, please don't ever hesitate to call or email us at 865.245.9080 or info@helpyoudwell.com.

We've also updated our website in a few places to describe in more detail how and what HYD can assist with especially related to estate transitions and organized moving and unpacking.

And as always, feel free to drop by The Hive to visit us anytime we're in!