The grave – the final resting place for the deceased and at the same time a place where the surviving relatives can remember the loved one. Designing the grave is a task that is not only associated with emotional challenges. After all, the gravesite should withstand every season, always look attractive and yet be easy to care for. In addition, the different location requirements of the plants must be taken into account, especially when planting graves all year round. At a time when your head is full of thoughts, when a lot of things need to be clarified and even more organized, the following guide provides answers to the most important questions about the design of the grave and at the same time provides ideas for grave planting and the use of gravel as a design element Element. In general, it makes sense to find out in advance from the respective cemetery administration which designs for the graves correspond to the cemetery regulations. For example, some cemeteries prohibit the complete, easy-care grave design with gravel. The reason is that too much gravel inhibits the biological processes in the soil due to a lack of oxygen.
The easy-care grave design – that’s what matters
If the grave of the deceased is to be designed, grave planting is one of the most classic variants. Plants convey a warm, personal character. In addition, many of them have a symbolic meaning. When choosing different plants for the grave, care should be taken to ensure that they harmonize well with each other and are also easy to care for. The location of the grave and the lighting conditions there also play a decisive role in the grave design. It is important to know that planting should not begin until three months after the burial at the earliest, as the earth is still settling heavily during this time.
When it comes to choosing plants for each grave, grasses, dwarf trees or cut evergreens are suitable as companions for upright gravestones. If there are stones lying down, we recommend planting them behind them so that you don't have to look at the watering can, shovel, etc. of the grave behind them. Low plants in front of the gravestone allow a clear view. Ground cover plants are a particularly easy-care type of year-round grave planting. Within a very short time they cover the ground and form a decorative carpet on the grave. The advantage of using ground cover: Wild herbs or weeds have no chance on the grave, which significantly reduces the maintenance effort. Depending on the plant, they not only present fresh green leaves, but also flowers, colorful fruits or beautiful autumn colors. While large-leaved, taller-growing ground cover plants are well suited for planting a double grave, small, delicate species should be used for urn graves.
In order to give the grave the necessary depth and to make it stand out visually, ornamental trees are often used to complement the dense grave planting with ground cover plants. These are best placed at the top of the grave, next to the headstone and at the edges or corners. Varieties with colored foliage such as red Japanese maple or flowering stems such as dwarf apple or fragrant lilac bring varied accents to the grave design.
Designing with gravel – a good alternative to planting
A long-lasting and easy-to-maintain alternative to grave design with ground cover is theUse of stones or gravelin different colors. Especially at the beginning, gravel design is a quick and easy-to-maintain option. If you don't want to cover the entire surface of the grave, you can opt for a combination of planting and gravel design. Gravel can also be ideally used for urn graves. For example, the small area can be scattered over the entire area with colored or white pebbles; An attractive plant bowl is placed in the middle. Overall, decorating with pebbles offers many possibilities. Gravel can be shaped into attractive shapes using just a few tools, such as shaped metal or aluminum strips. There are numerous images for a simple and attractive grave design in which gravel combined with the right planting in different shapes creates visually very appealing accents.
Easy-care grave design online – modern, helpful and time-saving
Not only gravestones can be easily designed and ordered online. The complete grave design - from grave planting to modern gravestones or memorial plaques made of stainless steel and patina to the selection of stones, gravel and decorative plugs - is now possible with the help of an online grave configurator like the one Himmelgrün offers. So under himmel-gruen there is the possibility of designing graves individually and within a very short time. The grave configurator offers many different options for grave design. There are also a variety of sample graves for illustration purposes, which can be ordered online as a complete package. Particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that the arrangements of plants on the graves were suitable for year-round grave design and that the maintenance effort was kept to a minimum.
This is how it works:
Himmelgrün's grave configurator guides the surviving relatives specifically through the design of single, double or family graves.
Step 1: Determine the grave size
2nd step: Determine the basic design by selecting the sample grave from numerous different sample graves with different themes and differently shaped aluminum strips for the design
3rd step: Determine individual filling with gravel or year-round perennials
4th step: Select a high-quality ornamental tree or trunk such as ginkgo, maple, crabapple or fragrant lilac. With the choice of the solitary plant, the individual grave design is completed.
In addition to the planting and filling, the sample graves can also be ordered online with individually made gravestones and decorative plugs made of stainless steel or patina and provided with individual mourning sayings.
Choosing the right gravestone and seasonal grave care
An individual gravestone expresses the appreciation of the deceased. In addition to classic gravestones made of granite or marble, there are now a variety of modern gravestones made of different materials. Whether sandstone or limestone or made of stainless steel or stainless steel, which can be individually shaped and engraved.
Because very few surviving relatives can still make a weekly trip to the cemetery, emphasis is increasingly being placed on grave design that is particularly easy to care for. If you choose the right plants, you can even plan so that light care about four times a year is enough.
Grave care in spring and summer
In spring, any winter protection that may be present should be removed and the grave cleared of dead plant parts and weeds. The gravestone – if there is one – should also be cleaned. If the earth is not covered by ground cover, the soil must be loosened and fertilized slightly in order to create good conditions for the new grave planting. In the summer, the plants may need to be trimmed and possible topiary trees shaped.
Grave care in autumn and winter
In autumn the ground cover and/or perennials are cut back again. Withered shoots and weeds are removed before the start of the cold season. If you want to get non-frost-resistant plants through the winter well, a single-layer cover made of fir or spruce branches is recommended. These are also suitable as a basis for autumn or winter decorations with grave candles or dry decorations. It is important to attach the winter decorations well so that they can withstand the upcoming autumn storms. Depending on the tradition, the grave design on All Saints' Day is adapted to the cold season by the Sunday of the Dead at the latest. If winter-hardy plants, such as Himmelgrün, are used for grave planting, winter protection is no longer necessary and grave care becomes a little easier.
Conclusion:With the right plants, the right design and the right support, the grave as the final resting place for the loved one can be designed individually and easily with little time expenditure. Suitable plants such as ground cover and attractive shapes that can optionally be filled with gravel, as well as a high-quality specimen plant, give the grave structure and depth. Appropriate mourning sayings and a modern, aesthetic gravestone ensure that the deceased is honored one last time and that the surviving relatives can express their appreciation for them.
