Moving house, moving your plants

Evergreen shrub: Camellia

1. Cut all the way around the fibrous rootball with a spade, before levering the plant out, holding it low on the main stem.	2. Place the rootball on a sheet of polythene, sacking or old bed sheet. This will form a 'root wrap' to hold the soil in place.	3. Take two opposite corners and knot them close to the stem. Repeat with the other two corners to make a tight bundle.
4. Cut all the current season's growth back to one or two buds from its base to reduce the foliage and thus limit water loss.

Clump-forming plant: Flax lily

I removed a few rooted pieces from the edge of the clump and potted them up. Then, as an insurance policy, I also collected some berries so that I could grow a few more plants from seed. Also suita ble for Kerria, symphoricarpos and grasses such as miscanthus.

Fragile hardy perennial: Pulmonaria

1. Divide the plant in situ, so you can take some of it with you and also leave some behind for the new owner.	2. Plant the division in a large pot of multi-purpose compost, firming it in around the roots to keep them moist.	3. Water the compost well and allow it to drain. Invert another slightly larger pot over the leaves to protect them.
4. Hold the top pot in place by tying string around both pots. Remove the top pot as soon as possible after the move.