Planting Tree With Pet Ashes

Posts

• amancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736

  4 January

  That sounds like a huge quantity of ashes to add to any planting spot. Wouldn't it be better to let go of the ashes and disperse them in a larger area, at the end of the day it's just inert dust and to direct your heartfelt need for a tribute to making a little sign for the tree marking their passing?
  
  It's understandable how we get attached to remains but to my eyes I'd rather memorialise a favourite person or animal with a photo of happy times spent together and a little reminder of them somewhere they loved to visit or spend time in. 
  
  I suppose we all have different ways to grieve and to express gratitude for people and animals that cross our path in life. 

  To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow

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• fidgetbones Posts: 17,618

  4 January

  My dad was not good at gardening. His ashes managed to kill two apple trees.
  

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• merryatkhVo2c8z5 Posts: 4

  4 January

  Thanks for the responses. I think we will put the ashes and the tree in two separate spots just to be safe! I'm not keen on scattering them because I'd like to know where they are- I know they're only remains but I will feel happier if they have a permanent place. 

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• Joyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933

  4 January

  There is no reason why you should not fork the ashes into the soil of planting holes before putting in trees. You would then have the caskets to keep. My daughter and son in law put the ashes of one of their cats under an apple tree and it is flourishing, I understand you have a lot more ash in quantity but I am sure you could distribute the ash between two planting sites to your satisfacton. It could be spread on the surface around the trees to work into the soil naturally in time.

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• merryatkhVo2c8z5 Posts: 4

  4 January

  Hi Joyce, that's a lovely idea. I will look into it, we could always dig a wider hole and mix the ashes in surrounding the tree- just need to be careful I think. 

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• thevictorian Posts: 1,279

  4 January

  You could perhaps bury them in something that won't degrade overtime. I don't know what specifically, I'd use a strong bucket, but thinking time capsule type thing.
  There is debate on here previously as to how bad ashes actually are with a range of views, mostly saying they aren't negative and more like organic fertiliser but obviously with a memorial tree you want it to thrive. 
  
  If you own the land were their paddock was, would you be opposed to scattering some of their ashes there and then burying a portion under the tree. 
  I've only dealt with ashes once, those of my grandmother, and my mother didn't want them in the house, so she was placed in the greenhouse. We didn't notice but she leaked, so was scattered partly in the greenhouse, partly up the front hedge and car but mostly with my grandads ashes and where she grew up (by her request).  

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• Lyn Posts: 23,190

  4 January

  It’s only bone meal isn’t,  can’t see a problem with putting it under or around plants,  but not too much in one place at one time. 

  Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 
  
  

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• merryatkhVo2c8z5 Posts: 4

  4 January

  Thank you for your thoughts, it's difficult because I want to make sure the tree does well but also lucky that I have plenty of choices if they can't go together. If the ashes are going to harm the soil in any way I'd want to put them deep down away from any roots. I think scattering them will be hard work with the amount we have as I think It'll be around 40kg! 

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