How to Transport Large Potted Plants

Large potted plants can be extremely hefty creatures, especially once you add in the weight of the soil in a big pot and often the weight of the pot itself. A large potted plant's stem or foliage also makes things difficult, as they're frequently too long, too bushy to squeeze into a standard vehicle. A plant can become almost a part of the family, though, once it's been with you long enough to get big. So it's not unheard of to go to great lengths to transport it.

Moving dolly

Package the plant for transport in a car or truck by wrapping the lower stem and exposed dirt in the pot with plastic that is taped to the outside of the pot. This will help keep dirt from spilling out as the potted plant is tilted and otherwise maneuvered into the vehicle.

Finish the packaging job by wrapping plastic wrap loosely around the plant's branching foliage. You can also place a garbage bag loosely over the plant if the bag is large enough or the plant small enough to allow this. This protective cover will make maneuvering the plant into your vehicle easier and help protect the branches and leaves of the plant from abrasion.

Slide the blade of a standard appliance dolly underneath the potted plant and use the dolly to transport the plant short distances or to load it into a truck large enough to accommodate the plant upright.

Open all vehicle doors wide and make sure to put down seats and clear anything that may slide into the plant out of the way.

Recruit someone strong to help you maneuver the plant into the vehicle. Protect your back by bending your knees and sticking your bottom out behind you as if you're sitting in a chair when squatting to the lift the pot. Use your legs, not your back, to provide the lifting power as you raise the pot.

Lower the pot close to the ground as you work the potted plant into the vehicle foliage-end first. If you have a hatchback or SUV with a rear hatch it'll be easiest to work it in through the trunk hatch. In a sedan you'll need to angle it in through the rear door on the driver's side so that the stem or trunk and branches extend diagonally into the passenger's seat instead of the driver's seat.

Pile pillows underneath the trunk or stem, if necessary, to support it during transport.

Reverse this procedure once you've arrived at your destination. Bring the plant out pot-first, carefully supporting the trunk or stem and foliage, then either move it to its new location by brute force or using a moving dolly. Unwrap the plastic from around the plant.

If the potted plant is simply too heavy to lift or move even a short distance, carefully dig dirt out from around the plant's roots and lift just the plant and its root ball onto a clean plastic tarp. Moisten the root ball, bundle the tarp up around it, and secure the tarp around the stem of the plant with tape in order to protect the roots. Then transport the plant and pot separately, removing more dirt from the pot if necessary to make it light enough for transport.