Money Moral Dilemma: Should I take my garden plants to my new home?

AuraliaJane

No, don't dig them up. I think that you should have planned ahead and taken cuttings. As many have said the plants are unlikely to survive, may not be happy in the new soil and of course, they're likely to be what helped to sell the house. It seems mean spirited to just dig them up. Look around and buy more when you move, grow from seed, ask for cuttings and before you know it you will have a whole new garden, just as beautiful as the one you left. That said, speak to the buyers and see if there are any of the plants they don't want. They may be planning to rip them all out and start afresh!

Libby_Stubbs

As long as you make to clear to the buyer that's what you intend to do, and I would say leave something in the garden so it's not completely bare!

kb42

I would say yes, take them with you. I'm a keen gardener, and am currently in the process of buying a house with a garden attached. I'm already thinking of how I can re-do it to put my own stamp on it, however it's going to be a bit of work to dig up what's there and I would feel bad just throwing them away. If the seller contacted me to say he wanted to dig them up and take them with him then I'd be only too happy for him to do so!

Plus I know that building up the plants in a garden can cost quite a bit - I wouldn't think it's unreasonable to want to take them with you.

Maybe talk to the buyer to let them know what you're planning? If they seem disgruntled or want a garden all ready to go then you could always some cheap plants to replace the ones you took so that there's not gaping holes everywhere?

em_9187

i would ask them. otherwise if i was them id be really unhappy that you had destroyed the beautiful garden. I would be livid if the vendors took the bushes and plants from our house, I'm not too fussed about plants in a pot though.

Ebenezer_Screwj

Yes, great idea. Take your plants with you to your new home.

Thrugelmir

I would only take my rare plants. Or those that have sentimental value. Be impossible to dig up everything.

karlandsusan

Seakay wrote: »

depends how you sold your property.
Did you say in the specs that the garden would be stripped before you leave?
Or did you allow you Estate Agent to point out the beauty of your mature garden as a selling point?

My thoughts exactly - if the garden was in any way used to attract buyers then it sounds pretty unfair to take it with you.

If you're that attached to the garden maybe you should think twice about moving at all!!

shehen23

I can see both sides here. I have plants that I have had for years that have sentimental value that I wouldn't want to leave behind but at the same time it's rather unkind to leave the garden decimated for the new owners. I guess a compromise is best. Take plants in pots and any plants with genuine meaning to you (gifts, anniversary roses etc) but don't bother with bedding plants or annuals and make sure you leave a few established plants so the new owners still have a pleasant garden when they move in. However, a word of warning, if the house will be empty for a while before they move in then take what you can. My parents bought an unoccupied house with a beautiful garden but before they could move in the neighbours stole the lot! Better you, who created and paid for it, than greedy curtain twitchers

Mallotum_X

If its a particularly nice garden then the "added value" of it will be in the house price. Stripping it out, may have in impact on what you reasonably expect for the house and garden.

DiscountofMonteCristo

Yeah do it! Come on, you've put the work and money in, you'd just lose it all and have to start again if you don't take them with you. Will the buyer look after them if you leave them? Do they even want them or will they clean them out and put something else in? You don't know, but you do know they'll still be appreciated if you take them to your new place.