Tips for Maintaining and Decorating a Gravesite

Maintaining a person's gravesite shows respect for the deceased and consideration for those who might visit the gravesite over the years. Some cemeteries may perform all necessary maintenance work for the graves on their site, but many locations leave the bulk of this maintenance work to the persons who have purchased the gravesite. After checking with the cemetery for what is allowed on their location by way of decorations and other such features, you might note a few tips for how to keep a grave maintained and decorated properly.

Install solar lights

Solar-powered lights that are used to illuminate walkways can also illuminate a gravesite; you can find such lights at any home supply store, and be sure you choose a light that is large enough to illuminate the entire headstone, but not so large that it causes a distraction in the cemetery or bothers nearby neighbours. Place the light at the base of the headstone and face it upwards, so the stone itself is visible, rather than at the foot of the grave, which might illuminate too much space and cause the light to become a distraction.

Have a water source for flowers

Setting flowers down on a gravesite is very respectful, but a bouquet of flowers typically doesn't last very long without water! There are small pots you can purchase for holding flowers, meant for outdoor use. Choose something unbreakable, such as metal or plastic, rather than glass or ceramic, and nestle this pot into the ground at the base of the headstone. This allows any visitor to bring their flowers and place them in the pot, where they will then last for many days or even weeks before they wilt.

Maintain the headstone

Whatever headstone is placed at a gravesite, it will probably need maintenance over the years. However, you want to ensure you know the particular material of the stone and how to keep it in good repair. Certain cleaning solutions that you might use around the house might be caustic and cause a stone to get brittle and crack, and other solutions may be ineffective on some stone varieties, making them a waste of time and money. Instead, invest in actual stone polishers meant for monuments, and note how often they should be used. An engraver may also need to be called to touch up any lettering on the stone that has faded over the years. This will ensure the headstone is always presentable, in good condition and easy for visitors to read.

Contact a cemetery restoration company for additional information.