moving across country

Next year I will be moving across country and would like to take some of my bulbs to start my new garden and some collected seed. Of course anything I do take will be visably healthy but I don't want to take to much of a chance of introducting a disease or pest. Is there a recommended way to make sure the bulbs and seeds are not carrying any disease or pests to my new garden.

I just noticed your new thread & I'm still curious about the skunk under the deck. Did your daughter ever get that problem resolved?

I'm sorry that I don't have any advice for you about the bulbs & seeds though that's something to think about. So where are you relocating? Someone one the rose forum just relocated from CA to OH & was taking along rosebushes.

You are so luck that you know it wont be till next year you have to move as this will give you plenty of time to prepare all the plants/shrubs and seeds you want to take with you, just remember to let the new owners of you property know the plants stored in pots are not staying when you relocate.
firstly, go around your garden and label all the plants to be moved and check them over like a health check up, that way, you will know if there are any diseases on the plants this year, if it is green fly etc, start to get rid now before the plants get further damage as aphids CAN bring diseases also if not treated.
Bulbs can be lifted and planted into pots soon as the flowers have passed, you lift the bulbs with some soil around the roots and put them into pots with fresh compost, the foliage should be allowed to die down naturally in the pots this helps send energy back into the bulbs, it would be good if you mixed a little plant food into the compost also to help them over the time they are in the pot, look after them as you would any pot plant, remember to stick labels into the pots so you know what they are, perennial plants are the same, but try wait till autumn to do these as they will naturally be going into their dormant rest period, just dont cram too many into the one pot or you will starve them of soil and nutrients due to lack of space,
even if you dont move before they start to grow again, in a slight shaded area, they will last in the pots for a season. shrubs are best to be readied now also, dig a trench around the root area with your spade like a V shape trench, into this V, add some nice moist compost and feed so that where the roots were broken by the V shaped trench, new roots will grow for spring next year, then early spring, lift them out and pot them as before, they will be able to grow in a large enough pot till you move and then replant them when you can in your new garden, just dont do it in the height of summer, if that is the time you move, look after them in the pots in a shade area till the cooler weather, Autumn and they should be OK for you,
best to start collecting large pots now so you dont run out and have to cram too many into smaller pots, I go to my Grocery store where they get flowers delivered in ready made bunches and beg/buy the large black containers the flowers arrive in then get my husband to drill some holes in the bottom for drainage, they are tall and wide, just the job for shrubs that need a deep or larger pot, believe me, they are cheaper and better than some from the garden center. Good luck, hope this helps you get started, dont wait too long as traveling to your new area will be shock enough for your plants, you need to give them time to settle into there pots to make life easier for them. WeeNel.

Are you even allowed to transport flowers and such from other states??? I mean even the flower/bulb companies tell you that they can only ship to certain states.

It's generally much easier to get things out of California than it is to get things in! Other states do have rules though too (although I don't think they have agriculture inspection stations set up at the borders like we do!) so it wouldn't hurt to check with the state you're moving to and find out what their rules are. Seeds should be fine unless it's a plant that could potentially be invasive in the place you're moving to but bulbs can harbor pests a little more easily, so some states may be pickier about them.

Hi Ecrane, as always, you are so wise and helpful, I never think about going from state to state as being problematic, here in UK, we are OK to move vegetation from County to County which is equivalent to your state to state, so long as we dont go to or from any other country outside UK, but it is I guess, always worth calling the horticultural offices to find out what's what, I would think perhaps if your not importing plants from over seas or going into the plant business for a living, then they will be helpful and even accommodating, but who knows if laws are laws then even gardeners must abide by them, maybe they will even give certification as to the plants being moved if they feel they are safe and sound. good luck to Butter3fly anyway, I know I would hate to have to leave some of my plants behind. WeeNel.