• Arrange to take it with you. If you can’t imagine leaving behind your prized peonies or heirloom tomato plants, you probably don’t have to. Just make sure you specifically exclude them when you sign the purchase agreement. “Most home buyers are not gardeners, and they probably don’t want your plants,” said Mark Glenn, an agent who works out of the southwest Minneapolis office of Coldwell Banker Burnet. Obviously, they don’t want bare spots in the landscape, either, but if you offer to resod and include a bid from a professional, most buyers will be satisfied.


• But don’t be sneaky. Resist the impulse to merely dig up plants and hope the new owners won’t notice. In-ground plants are considered part of the property, and removing them can complicate or even void a transaction. “Anything the buyer can get psychologically attached to can be a problem,” Glenn said. That includes your grandmother’s favorite rosebush. Garden artworks, including sculpture, birdhouses and other decorative items not permanently attached, are usually OK to take with you. “They come and go, like furniture or indoor artwork,” Glenn said.

• Leave an owner’s manual. A garden journal or a diagram showing what’s planted where, with tips on how to care for it, can increase the odds that the new owners won’t kill all your beloved plants — at least immediately.

• Embrace the possibilities. You may feel as if you’re losing a garden, but you’re also gaining one, even if it’s only a patio big enough to hold a couple of containers. Your new growing conditions will be different from your old ones, which opens the door to trying new things. If you love home-grown tomatoes, for example, but have never had enough sun to make them flourish, this could be your chance.

KIM PALMER