Plants in new home to stay in garden

When we bought our first house they cleared the garden of plants but forgot to dig up the bulbs. When they all came IP in the Spring our neighbour told us that someone had been going to buy the house, asked if she could plant spring bulbs but the sale fell through.
So we did have a lovely display.

As foxie48 says, plants in beds and borders are part of the fixtures and fittings and cannot be removed without permission. It is the wrong time of year to move them although cuttings might be ok.

keepingquiet

I have bought several houses in the course of my lifetime but have never removed plants, or had plants removed from a garden I had purchased.

Whoever does this clearly does not care about the plants which has some have said, may never recover...

I find it all very odd.

We do have some peonies which have moved around with us but the tubers spread so we left some behind at our old houses too.

I would say no. I've never heard of such a thing. One of the best things about our house when we bought it was the garden, I would have been upset if they'd taken the plants.

It's not always possible to go out and replace plants from nurseries - we have two shrubs that were cuttings from my DMs garden over thirty years ago and it's impossible to get the same ones now. We've taken cuttings but it takes a good few years for them to get to a plantable size.

Although I think they're being a bit cheeky I would check what they wanted before refusing. If it doesn't make much difference to the garden (or it's something you're not fussed about) maybe let them take a couple. You may find it gives enough room to plant something you really like in it's place. Make sure they understand that you expect the garden to be left in a good state afterwards though.

Thanks everyone. I’ve asked for a list of exactly what they want and suggested that cuttings ought to be taken in autumn, when it’s more appropriate.

I’ve got lots of photos of the gardens, so it will be obvious if anything goes missing.

I do understand that memories are important. I took cuttings of my favourite plants from our 30+ year garden, before it was sold, so this wouldn’t happen. But not everyone thinks ahead. I’m just a bit cross about it, it’s like emotional blackmail.

I think it depends how many plants and shrubs have sentimental value. If is just a few that make no difference to the appearance of the garden would say yes, if they intend to strip the garden of its best looking plants and shrubs so that the garden would suffer would say no but suggest picking two or three that they have fondest memories of.

rubysong

They should have made it clear when they advertised the property if they were taking plants from the garden. Tell them the garden was a major factor in you choosing to buy but you will let them take a few cuttings.

Yep....that's my take on it too.

Though I'm cynical enough to think there's a good chance they'll sneak in anyway prior to you moving there and just steal what they want. So, in your position, I'd keep an eye on things as far as possible to prevent them doing that - ie they won't have the nerve to do so if you're obviously hanging around in the area.

As you say - they've had plenty enough time to ask if they can have what they want from the garden - but they chose not to do so....

Also - re you having taken lots of photos of the garden = that was a good idea to do that.

The follow-on thought from that = do they know you have those photos? - ie proof of what you own.

I've had photos taken of my garden in case my bad neighbours "have a go" and we've been doing so very openly - ie so that those neighbours know I know and can prove what my garden is like if need be.

No, you would'nt be unreasonable, they've had plenty of time. It's yours now. Best of luck.

I would get my solicitor to politely refuse the request and be down at the new house straight away and take detailed photos of the plants in the garden. As several others have mentioned the garden ( one of your main attractions to the new home) could be ruined.
I would offer that after you have moved in they could come and take cuttings if they wish at whatever time of year is suitable or maybe even take plants so long as they replaced them with others that you are happy with.

When I sold my mother’s house I stipulated that I would take the rose which grew outside her kitchen window, then confirmed in the solicitor’s questionnaire. I feel that no more than one plant should be asked for in your situation. As you say, it does sound a little like emotional blackmail. Good luck.

CariadAgain

Also - re you having taken lots of photos of the garden = that was a good idea to do that.

The follow-on thought from that = do they know you have those photos? - ie proof of what you own.

I've had photos taken of my garden in case my bad neighbours "have a go" and we've been doing so very openly - ie so that those neighbours know I know and can prove what my garden is like if need be.

No they don’t know, but my solicitor does.

I took lots of pictures so I could correctly identify them and can take care of them properly.

I asked for a list of the ones they wanted two days ago but no response from them. I really hope they don’t just take them. There are some really lovely shrubs.

Calendargirl

They should have thought of this earlier, and this should have been reflected in the ‘what’s included (or not).

I would be inclined to get the solicitor to respond to this, and not get involved.

Yes, everything that is being removed should have been included in the paperwork. Get your solicitor to say no.
When we moved from our original family home I got permission from the buyer to remove an acer from the garden which we had bought on our Silver Weddding anniversary. The buyers were quite happy for us to do this, and have since completely demolished the garden and laid it all down to grass.

I can understand that there is a sentimental connection, but surely one or perhaps two plants would be sufficient? I would be OK with that, but not lots of plants.

As has been said, legally speaking, they do not have a right to take any plants at all but a small gesture would be kind I think.

All the plants had been removed from the garden when we moved in our present house and all the lightbulbs. We laughed about people’s pettiness and didn’t worry about it. However as you have proof of what was in the garden, and it means a lot to you, I would ask your solicitor to contact the sellers saying they should not take any plant from the garden without prior agreement on an individual basis and that if there is any significant difference from your photographs they will be charged for replacements. I’m not sure I would believe the reason given, some people are extremely penny pinching.

I am with M0nica here - do a couple really matter?

Unless they arrive "specimen items" if they are happy to cover the cost of replacement I think it's not s big thing.

I have left, been left, taken and allowed to be taken.
Unless you are already annoyed about something else it seems reasonable to talk about it.

Also, not everyone realises about plants being fixtures - and it's not as though you've completed yet!

You say their mum died so they may only just now be looking at the garden as it blooms.
They have asked you by email so haven't just dug them up.

I'd try to be accommodating.

If they are so ignorant about gardening as to have neither taken cuttings nor realised that now is not the time to move plants... I fear them going right ahead regardless and lifting 'whatever' - which will likely promptly die. Have a good talk to your solicitor. If you want to go ahead despite concern that you may not get the garden 'as seen', negotiate. Is the pleasant garden a 'deal breaker', or could you actually be happy in that property even if there is some reinstatement to do? - Would they agree to pay for replacement plants and a gardener to plant them?

They don't have to take anything just now, sandelf

This is surely just a request at the moment?

You would not be unreasonable to say no. You've bought the home with the garden as seen, and the contract includes the planted shrubs. It’s understandable they’re sentimental, but they’ve had time to take cuttings. You’re entitled to keep the garden intact as agreed.

I have asked for a list of plants they want and offered to take cuttings for them, so their favourite ones survive but they have not responded to my solicitor.

NotSpaghetti

I am with M0nica here - do a couple really matter?

Unless they arrive "specimen items" if they are happy to cover the cost of replacement I think it's not s big thing.

I have left, been left, taken and allowed to be taken.
Unless you are already annoyed about something else it seems reasonable to talk about it.

Also, not everyone realises about plants being fixtures - and it's not as though you've completed yet!

You say their mum died so they may only just now be looking at the garden as it blooms.
They have asked you by email so haven't just dug them up.

I'd try to be accommodating.

It's always been my own experience with vendors, neighbours, buyers that they ALWAYS know what's what - but they just want to pretend they don't and hope you don't either and they can get away with try-ons. In any accommodation I've ever had - there was never one single thing worth having (other than my freestanding 1950s kitchen cabinet that the vendors stole from my starter house).

They just want to see what they can get away with ...

That is really sad CariadAgain - and hasn't been my experience at all.

NotSpaghetti

That is really sad CariadAgain - and hasn't been my experience at all.

It's much my preference for people to be trying to outdo each other with generosity personally.

Cue for someone I'm friendly with came round yesterday - having accepted my offer of a (best quality) kitchen appliance for a community project she owns and runs and cookbooks to go with it. She offered to buy it off me - I refused to accept any money for it. Cue for she comes round to fetch it, brought me a bunch of flowers and reeled through some food the project is growing to see if any took my interest and she'll be dropping off some luxury plant stuff she's grown for me to grow on and it's something that's difficult to get hold off. We're both of us quite happy and off she went - complete with a cutting of a plant of mine she likes.

I'm all for a bit of bartering....and it's win win imo if people are doing things like that. She makes a standing joke of she'll take anything anyone offers for her project - and then you just know she'll be looking for what she can give back in return.

CariadAgain

NotSpaghetti

I am with M0nica here - do a couple really matter?

Unless they arrive "specimen items" if they are happy to cover the cost of replacement I think it's not s big thing.

I have left, been left, taken and allowed to be taken.
Unless you are already annoyed about something else it seems reasonable to talk about it.

Also, not everyone realises about plants being fixtures - and it's not as though you've completed yet!

You say their mum died so they may only just now be looking at the garden as it blooms.
They have asked you by email so haven't just dug them up.

I'd try to be accommodating.

It's always been my own experience with vendors, neighbours, buyers that they ALWAYS know what's what - but they just want to pretend they don't and hope you don't either and they can get away with try-ons. In any accommodation I've ever had - there was never one single thing worth having (other than my freestanding 1950s kitchen cabinet that the vendors stole from my starter house).

They just want to see what they can get away with ...

We'd put an offer in here, years ago, for a house in a fil,age. Everything was proceeding but the vendors kept putting obstacles in the way and delaying matters. Silly things like deciding they needed to take the garden shed and other fixtures.

We found another house, a new-build and because we wanted to proceed quickly with children starting at new schools, we bought the new house instead.

fil,age village