5 steps to a tidy grave

Caring for the graves of our relatives is not just a matter of respect for the deceased, but also a legal responsibility for the entire cemetery. Graves that are not maintained for three years can be expropriated and transferred to other owners. Maintaining a grave is fairly simple and here are some valuable tips.

Clean up hedges and other plants

Graves can be separated from adjacent ones by hedges, and often this way people also replace grave fences. However, without proper maintenance, beautiful hedges become overgrown shrubs that invade adjacent plots. Hedges must be trimmed, dead and diseased parts removed, as well as treated with insect repellents if plant pests are found.

It is also worth remembering that other greenery can also be used to make a burial site more beautiful. Before planting, assess the conditions under which the plants you have chosen will grow. Is the cemetery shady, sunny or partially shady? Plants such as yew, thuja, beech, cypress, rhododendrons, ferns, hostas, ivy, periwinkles, foal feet, saxifrages, creeping crickets, sedums (stonecrops) and waldsteinia can be planted in shady cemeteries. Partially shady cemeteries are well suited to flocs, limes, velvets, bugles, waldsteinia, heather, ivy, primroses and alpine mint. On the other hand, hanging willows, marigolds, various grasses, junipers, sunflowers, saxifrages and other sun-loving plants will be right at home in sunny cemeteries.

Monuments and curbs also need to be cleaned up

Monuments, curbs and fences also require cleaning and maintenance. First of all, as already mentioned, their condition must always be assessed. Check whether the tombstone, monument, grave edges or fence are not skewed or cracked. If they are skewed, it is necessary to straighten and stabilize. These works can be done very quickly by strong men's hands, all that is needed, is to straighten the skewed thing and thoroughly press the ground at the bottom.

Wooden chairs or edging may need repainting. Use a durable colour that is weather resistant. Due to the weather conditions, over the time, wood may break, crumble or split. This indicates that the item will not last long and will need to be replaced.

Moss, silt and dirt should be removed from stone surfaces. Rough stone surfaces can be cleaned with household products – an abrasive paste and brush. After cleaning, rinse the surface of the stone thoroughly. If there are engravings on the tombstone, they can be cleaned with a toothbrush. For polished stone surfaces, the use of abrasives is not recommended; use water and a soft sponge or cloth instead. Liquid detergents may also be used for faster and more effective cleaning.

Regular grave maintenance

Regular grave maintenance is essential to proper care of a burial plot. Graves should be maintained at least twice a year, in spring and autumn. In spring, the grave should be cleaned up to remove leaves and debris left from the previous autumn and winter. Check the greenery and assess the condition of grave benches, monuments and grave edges. In late autumn, collect fallen leaves and remove old, withered greenery. Sometimes biannual maintenance is not enough. If cut flowers are present, the grave will require much more frequent maintenance; cut flowers spoil quickly and should be removed and replaced with new ones. It is also advisable to care for graves before Candle Nights and Cemetery Festivals.

Grave maintenance accessories - always at hand

Even the best intentions may not be enough when it comes to grave maintenance. You will also need a variety of tools. Always keep them at hand! If you do not want to transport tools like rakes to and from the cemetery, you can “hide” them behind the gravestone or under a bench. In addition to a rake, you will also need a bucket or watering can, gloves, small shears for trimming and weeding plants, as well as a garbage bag to collect the rubbish for easy disposal. These tools for grave maintenance are usually small and compact and can be conveniently stored near the plot.

What to do, if you cannot take care of the grave yourself

Remember - if for any reason you are unable to handle the upkeep of a family burial plot yourself, you can entrust grave maintenance to those who are committed to ensuring that the final resting place of your loved ones is properly cared for. Riga Private Cemetery offers both one-time and regular grave maintenance services throughout Latvia.

The company has gained a great deal of trust among people who have relatives that are buried in Latvia. Our grave maintenance workers will not only care for the greenery according to the client’s wishes, but will also perform other activities related to grave maintenance – changing and installing attributes, laying flowers and candles on special days, such as the deceased’s birthday and other feasts. Essentially, we can carry out any service that is important to the client. Reports and photographs are provided to the client after each completed work.

Riga Private Cemetery also offers other grave maintenance services:

• Sale of burial sites;
• Reservation of burial sites;
• Completion of funeral documents;
• Removal of the deceased to the morgue at any time of the day or night;
• Arranging and conducting of funeral ceremonies;
• Pastoral services of all denominations;
• Sale of funeral accessories;
• Funeral transport;
• Funeral urns and coffins;
• Grave maintenance:
• Flower delivery to the plot according to customer request;
• Granite grave monuments.