I believe unless your a garden/plant grower its illegal to move plants outside the state. The reason I know this is because my mother brought me cactus from tx and the PA extension center informed me when I called with a question. I hadnt realized it and mentioned where they came from.
The one of the reasons for this is insects
so dont get caught.

are kidding me?!!!! that's aweful news. I dont wanna do something illegal. how do I find out if this is true? I know that some states have restrictions, like Calif., and of course other countries, but gee this is new.

michelle

Michelle,

I asked this question a while back. I was not told by anyone that it was illegal. I was reminded that it might be a good idea to de-pest my plants so as not to bring any insects or blights to wherever I was going to.

I understand how frustrating it is to have to consider leaving a large part of your garden behind. I'm in a similar situation right now not knowing weather we shall move or not.

Good luck!

Betty:)

When I moved my roses from FL to TX, I cut them all the way back, leaving probably only about 3-4 inches, they look like sticks in the pot. I managed to fit about 12 roses in my car and in the SUV that my husband was driving. In the SUV, my 120 lbs. dog was in there along with 2 cats plus our suitcases and etc.

I did water all the plants before leaving FL, we were on the road for 3 days and they all managed just fine. Mind you, we moved in Feb last year, so the plants stayed cool in the car.

If you do move them, move only the own root ones. I wouldn't bother with the ones on fortuniana.
Glenn

How about renting our buying one of those flat trailers and putting the plants in pots on it. You'd have to secure it and make sure none would fall off.

We drove from NY to GA in 17 hours with 6 cats (sedated, thankfully) in an SUV. We didn't have any plants at the time.

Are your roses rare or irreplaceable?
One-of-a-kind cultivars? Your own seedlings? "Family" roses?

If not -- why move them?

If these are roses which you purchased commercially, you can probably purchase replacements
for less trouble and money than you would invest in moving them.

And that's without even considering the possibility of carrying pests or diseases from
your current area to an area where those problems are not currently known.
I know I'd feel testy if someone brought roses to my area from an area where chili thrips are active!

If there are a few plants which are irreplaceable, perhaps you could move at bare-root season.
Check with your local agricultural department about making sure your bare-roots aren't
carrying any unwanted "passengers" to your new home.

Jeri in SoCal

Jeri are you a guy or gal? hehehe

I hear you jeri, I would be upset bringing problems into a new area too. when I moved from south florida to 'mid' florida, we were in the midst of that citrus canker fiasco and I had to leave behind my now-dead grandmothers key lime tree....sounds funny but a very sentimental small tree. it killed me. the new home owner chopped down every single tree and flower and shrub I carefully nurtured and spent my last penny on. I know I cant be the only one who feels a bond to many of my plants, can I? I will however try to look at them as a dollar sign and see if I can get used to the idea. i'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.

I love the bare-root idea much better than abandoning my loved ones. if I thought for one second they would be cared for by the next homeowner, I wouldnt feel so bad. but you know, it seems all anyone wants these days is just grass and no obstacle at all to have to mow around. I am hoping this drought changes that in peoples' minds.

thanks for the suggestions, I sure appreciate them.

michelle

Call your local extension center. Ours is the Penn State ex center. Or your local enviromental center. They would be able to tell you whether it is or not. It could very well be they told me the wrong information. LOL better to be safe then sorry.

I am a She-Jeri, not a He-Jerry -- though Jerry is what my birth certificate says. -VBG-

Yes, I do understand your dilemma, and what it must have cost in emotion to leave that lime tree behind.
BUT if you are able to time things right, and with the help of ag-extension, you should be able to save at least some that mean the most to you, without precipitating some sort of disaster.

GOOD LUCK!

She-Jeri, in SoCalif

sorry she-jeri, you crack me up. the reason I asked is cuz your response was more logical than emotional. it sounded like something my husband would say.

I know what you mean about birth certificate mistakes, I was a michael for many many years.

I will ask coop-extension for information. thanks.

and in case it wasnt clear, when I left my key lime tree, it was alive but grandma was dead. now, they both are. she actually dug up that poor tree when she moved and plopped it down at my house. gave great key limes.

michelle

> your response was more logical than emotional.
> it sounded like something my husband would say.

*** It comes from living with an Engineer. -G-

She-Jeri in SoCalif

Michelle,
I completely feel your pain....Is it at all possible to talk to the new owners about the plants and find out their intentions...the reason I mention this, is that I left a home in San Diego that was filled with plants and trees of all kinds that I really wasnt sure they would appreciate, let alone know what to do to care for them....I was able to talk to them and tell them about each plant and tree & vine so that they knew as much about them as possible...This may at least give you better piece of mind if for some reason you cant take them with you.

Another idea might be to have a plant sale...at least make some $$$ to help you replace what you can after you move. This way at least you will know for sure that someone who appreciates your plants will be getting them. That along with taking the ones you can...might make you feel better about it?

I think the plant sale is a great idea, and you could give some of your favs to your special neighbors and friends. Another incentive, of course, is the enjoyment of making a new garden plan, and perusing catalogs, etc. Good luck w/ your move! Brandy

thanks those are good ideas. I feel less stressed about possibly moving now.

michelle

Michelle, are you leaving us? Floridians,lots of Floridians are bailing out. We would leave S. Florida if we had jobs in the area that you are looking for since we aren't crazy about many of the people here. The only problem is when you arrive there you'll be greeted by other Floridians who have already left. but I agree if they are on fortuniana it could be iffy, especially in the mountains of them surviving.

teka2, I desperately want to move to a cooler area. I am feeling great resentment toward my home state of fla. just cuz I stand at the windows all summer longing to be outside. I have lived my whole life in a 'beach' frame of mind and have been in tons of hurricanes which dont bother me, however, we can longer afford insurance/prop taxes ever since those 4 hurricanes we got in a row. what year was that....2004? anyway, I want to experience a mountain and its weather. it must be so awesome to see a mountain outside your window!

I just have to pry DH's arse out of that T.V. chair and convince him it wont be that much work to pack up stuff...hehehe. when I do go, I will need to find loving homes for my fortunianas....sniff sniff.

as for the people here in fla. they are mostly not native floridians. I think the only ones I know, are my immediate family ....and really if you think about, my family all came over here on an immigrant boat of some sort but it was sooooo long ago, that we are considered natives. I think people behave better when life is less stressful and because it has become crowded here, it is stressful. that's sad. florida had dirt roads when I was kid.

michelle

She-Jeri, I live w/ an engineer (DH)and I hope and pray that I will never be like him. Heh!

Michelle, I'd invite you to come up here to Michigan but you may want to wait until our local economy picks up pace. Although you could probably find some nice real estate right around now due to the latter. The lilacs & peonies are waiting for you...

Betty

hey betty, my husband is dreading moving anywhere colder than here. it's gonna be a fight when I tell him okay i'm going w/o you....hehehe I may have to sell the house while he is at work. hahahaha oh wait, no houses are selling here right now either. BTW, I LOVE lilacs and peonies, i'm so envious.

michelle

You can try some romantic nostalgic type of reasoning with him. Tell him you can buy season tickets to go see the U of M Wolverines kick some behind,(that might do the opposite) or you can tell him that you'll go sit by the bonfire outside, just you two, on a crisp fall night, while sipping wine & watching the stars. Tell him you can take the kids to an orchard and pick apples...who knows, some of these suggestions may work. I can see though that it would be tough leaving warm weather & sunny skies.

But yea! Come on up girl! Move up here to Ann Arbor.

Betty

Michelle, no lilacs or peonies here (north Georgia), and it is hot, but it does get cooler in fall and we do get a winter.

We are getting a lot of ex-Floridians, but there are also a lot of ex Nykers and Michiganders....

hi buford aka mrs. blue eyes, I was envious of the lilacs and peonies that betty grows in michigan. tell me, how hot do your summers get? and how bad are your mosquitos? and while I am at, how bad are your property taxes?

betty, I am leaving now. remind me to call DH when I get there and tell him I wont be home for dinner...hehehe

michelle