London - In love with the garden at your new house? Don’t get too attached to it – chances are it could be stripped bare before you move in.
And it’s not thieves to blame – but the previous occupants.
There’s been a huge increase in ‘garden grabbing’, in which people load plants into their removal vans when they move, researchers have found.
This is because many homeowners feel their carefully cultivated plants are part of the family and don’t want to leave them behind.
The top five plants taken are Japanese maples, magnolia, roses, snowdrops and sculptured bushes.
Matthew Compton, a gardening expert from Homebase, said: “Leaving a favourite plant behind is seen by some people as an act of betrayal.
“They would no more dream of leaving them behind than a member of the family.”
But those planning to bubble-wrap their greenery should beware – plants growing in a house’s garden are classed as fixtures and fittings, and uprooting them without the buyer’s permission can invalidate your selling agreement. - Daily Mail