`When you are packing up the house, the backyard often gets left until the very last minute. It’s easy to look at the outdoor setting and think, "It’s tough, it can just go on the truck as is."

However, garden equipment poses some of the biggest safety risks in the entire move. From flammable liquids in the mower to the spider hiding under the outdoor table, the "Great Australian Backyard" requires a specific packing strategy.

Here is the definitive guide to prepping your outdoor gear so your driver doesn’t refuse your load on moving day.

1. The BBQ and Gas Bottle Dilemma

This is one of the most common disputes on moving day.

The Gas Bottle Rule

Gas cylinders (LPG) are classified as Dangerous Goods.

  • The Truck: You cannot put a standard 9kg gas bottle in the removalist truck. If it leaks, it creates an explosive atmosphere in the back of the van.
  • The Solution: The easiest option is to use the "Swap-and-Go" system. Swap your full bottle for a deposit or give it to a neighbour, and buy a fresh one at the new location.
  • Your Car: You can transport a gas bottle in your own car, provided it is upright, secured, and you have the windows cracked for ventilation.

The BBQ Unit

  • Clean the Grease: Removalists use felt blankets to wrap furniture. If your BBQ is covered in grease, they won't want their clean blankets touching it. Scrape down the plates and empty the drip tray (this is crucial—drip trays spill easily).
  • Remove Protrusions: Take off the side shelves and the hood thermometer if it sticks out.

2. Petrol-Powered Tools (Mowers & Snippers)

Your lawn mower, whipper snipper, and chainsaw are fire hazards on wheels.

The "Dry Tank" Policy

Removalists will not transport equipment that contains fuel.

  • Drain the Tank: Siphon the petrol out into a jerry can (which you must take in your own car) or run the machine until it stalls.
  • Drain the Oil: If the mower is going to be tipped on its side to fit in the truck, drain the oil too. If oil leaks onto someone else's mattress during the move, you will be liable for the damage.
  • Clean the Grass: Hose it down. Dried grass clippings can contain seeds or pests, which is a major biosecurity issue if you are moving interstate.

3. Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture is bulky and surprisingly fragile.

  • Prevent Mould: If it has rained recently, ensure your timber or wicker furniture is 100% dry before loading. If you wrap damp wood in plastic for a 3-day interstate trip, it will grow mould.
  • Cushions: Don't leave cushions on the furniture. Pack them in large "Tea Chest" cartons or heavy-duty plastic bags. This stops them from getting dusty or lost.
  • Glass Tops: Remove the glass top from your outdoor table. Wrap it in bubble wrap and cardboard. Glass tables are prone to shattering if the frame twists during transport.

4. Moving Pot Plants

Plants are living things, and they hate moving house as much as we do.

Local Moves

  • Watering: Stop watering your plants 2 days before the move. Wet soil is incredibly heavy and can weaken the base of terracotta pots.
  • The Truck: Most removalists will take plants, but they won't insure them. If a leaf snaps or a stem bends, that is at your own risk.

Interstate Moves (Biosecurity)

  • The Law: Australia has strict biosecurity zones. You often cannot take soil or plants into Western Australia, Tasmania, or South Australia from other states.
  • The Risk: Authorities can confiscate and destroy your plants at the border, and you may be fined.
  • Action: Check the Australian Interstate Quarantine website. It is often cheaper and safer to give your plants to friends and buy new ones at your destination.

5. The "Redback" Check

It sounds trivial, but it is a serious Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issue.

Removalists reach under tables and lift pots from the rim. If they get bitten by a Redback spider or a White-tail, the move stops immediately.

  • The Spray: Ideally, hose down your outdoor furniture and give it a quick spray with insect repellent the day before the move.
  • The Check: Turn chairs upside down and check for webs.

6. Garden Shed Tools

Rakes, shovels, and brooms are awkward to pack.

  • The Bundle Method: Do not put loose shovels in the truck. Bundle all long-handled tools together using tape or cable ties. Wrap the sharp ends (shovel heads, rake tines) in an old towel or bubble wrap to stop them slicing into other furniture.
  • Hoses: Drain the water out of your garden hose, coil it up, and screw the ends together to prevent drips.