Right, Let’s Talk About the Garden…
So, you’re moving. You’ve got boxes sorted for the kitchen, the beds are taken apart, and now you’re wondering how on earth to manage your Manchester garden move. And you see it. The garden. The collection of hefty pots, the rickety shed, the barbecue that’s seen better days, and all those plants you swore you’d look after. It’s the one thing everyone forgets until the week before, and suddenly it feels like the biggest job of all.
Look, I’ll be straight with you. Moving your outdoor space is a right pain. We’ve been doing this for years across every corner of Manchester, and the garden is where we see the most last-minute panic. But it doesn’t have to be a total nightmare. Here’s some honest advice from us on how to tackle it without losing your mind.
First Thing’s First: Decide What’s Actually Worth Moving
Before you lift anything, grab a brew, stand in your garden, and be ruthless. Is that half-dead lavender bush really going to make the trip? What about that bistro set that’s more rust than metal?
A house move is the perfect excuse for a clear-out. Get three imaginary piles going in your head:
- The Keepers: The stuff you genuinely love. Your favourite rose bush, that solid oak bench, the pots you got from the garden centre in Sale.
- The Gifts: Things that are still good, but not for you anymore. Offer plants or surplus tools to friends and neighbours. You’ll make someone’s day.
- The Leavers: Some mature shrubs are basically part of the house now. It’s often best to leave them. Just make sure you mention it to the new owners so they don’t get a surprise.
Dealing with Your Plants (Without Sending Them to an Early Grave)
Some guides will give you a complicated scientific process for this. Honestly, it’s simpler than that. The key is to reduce the shock for the plant.
A couple of days before the move, give them a good watering. Not so much that the pot weighs a ton, but enough so the soil holds together. If you’ve got a big plant in the ground, you’ll need to dig it up and pop it into a sturdy pot a few days beforehand to let it recover.
Now, for wrapping them. Some people will tell you to use old newspaper, but honestly, I think that’s rubbish. The moment it gets damp, it falls apart. A bit of old fleece or even bubble wrap works much better. For tall, leafy plants, just gently tie the stems together with a bit of string to stop the branches from snapping in the van.
A Quick Story: Just last month in Chorlton, we helped a client move a 20-year-old Japanese Acer his father had planted. It was the most important ‘piece of furniture’ in the whole house. We used a technique of wrapping the entire root ball in hessian sacking to keep it secure and moist and built a support frame in the van. The tree arrived without a single broken branch.
The Big One: Those Heavy Pots and Planters
This is where most DIY moves go wrong. I’ve seen it a hundred times. Someone tries to be a hero and lift a massive terracotta pot full of wet soil. Cue the cracked patio slabs and a pulled back muscle.
Just empty them. Seriously.
Scoop the plant and the top bit of soil out, and tip the rest into a durable sack. You’ll be stunned at how much lighter the pot is. It’s the difference between a two-person struggle and an easy one-person lift. We can then wrap the empty pot in a proper removal blanket so it doesn’t get chipped. It’s a simple trick, but it’s the safest way to do it. Trust me on this.
What About the Patio Furniture and BBQ?
Your outdoor furniture has probably endured a few Manchester winters, so it’s pretty tough. Still, a bit of prep makes a huge difference when relocating your garden.
Give it all a good wipe-down first. If you’ve got a big wooden table, take the legs off. It makes a world of difference getting it through doors. Pop the screws in a labelled sandwich bag and tape it to the tabletop – you’ll thank me later.
As for the barbecue, disconnect the gas bottle. We can’t legally take it in the van, so that one’s on you to move in your car. Scrape the grill down and get rid of all the old charcoal. Nobody wants that greasy mess tipping over onto their boxes.
That Shed Full of “Useful Stuff”
Ah, the shed. Home to sharp tools, half-empty paint tins, and that lawnmower that hasn’t worked since 2019.
Look, with sheds we always say this: if it’s sharp, cover the end with cardboard. If it’s got fuel in it, drain it. We can’t take flammable liquids. Bundle all the long-handled rakes and spades together with tape so they’re not rattling around like a bag of bones.
And the shed itself? Some people decide to dismantle it. If you do, good luck to you. Take photos at every stage and label every single screw. Or, you can ask us. We’ve taken down and rebuilt more sheds than I can count. It’s one of those jobs that’s always worth paying someone else to do.
What Our Customers Say: “I was dreading moving all my garden stuff. The Metro Man and van team handled my heavy pots and chiminea without a single chip. They genuinely cared.” – Sarah, formerly of Didsbury
On Moving Day, It’s About the Right Gear
Look, you can try and get all this garden stuff into a hired van with a couple of mates. Or you can use a team that does this day in, day out.
The big difference is the equipment. We use proper dollies to wheel your heavy pots right up to the van. Then, it goes on the tail lift – the proper lift on the back of our van. No back-breaking lifting required. It just goes up smoothly. In the van, everything is strapped in tight and padded with blankets to ensure nothing moves an inch. It’s just common sense, but it makes the whole day feel calm and under control.
So, to wrap it up…
Moving your garden isn’t impossible, but it needs a bit more thought than just chucking it all in the van last. A bit of planning, a bit of prep, and a bit of honesty about what’s actually worth the effort will make your life a whole lot easier.
And if it all sounds like a massive headache? Honestly, that’s what we’re here for.
Oh, and a few other things people always ask us…
First off, people always want to know if it’s even worth moving their plants. My answer? If you love them, yes! A few familiar plants can make a new place feel like home instantly. Just be prepared that some might not survive the shock. It’s a gamble, but one that usually pays off.
Another one we get is about water features. Can they be moved? Usually, yes. You just need to drain it completely, dry it out, and pack the pump separately. Just give us a heads-up when you call, and we’ll figure out the best way to handle it.
And the biggest mistake people make? Underestimating the weight of wet soil in a pot. Every time.
If you’d rather spend your weekend planning your new garden instead of worrying about how to move the old one, just give us a bell.
We’ll come and have a look, give you an honest, no-nonsense quote, and sort out the whole lot for you.
- Phone: 0161 507 2417 or 07490 323949
- Email: contact@metromananvan.co.uk
- Online: Get in touch with the team here.
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(Company Number: METRO MAN AND VAN LTD 14172532)
