I suppose it depends a bit if it's sunny or shady. My parents' grave is shaded by the woodland next door. My first husband's grave is in the sun in a graveyard in Dordogne. I planted rockery plants and spread pea gravel over it.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Thanks everyone for your ideas. I've been told over the phone that the plot is fairly open and exposed. It's in North London, so not too cold. Hadn't thought about geraniums obelixx, that's a good idea to cover bulb leaves. Wonder if it'll cope potentially being in bright sun with no watering...fuchsia a great idea. Hadn't realised they were so low maintenance wither.that's a lovely story Busy Lizzie
As gravediggers, headstone makers and restorers, I would say have a look around at how the yard is kept, either the grasscutter or the council workers will most probably come along in the Spring and take the whole lot down to ground level.
In Devon there are rules in the churchyard, no flowers beyond 9 inches from the stone. Cemeteries a bit more lax but the grasscutter does like a nice clear space to get along with his ride on.
We dont tend the grounds now, but when we did, lots of stuff
that had died, soggy leaves etc, was a real pain, you have to pick it up before mowing or strimming, ts ok I suppose, if you make regular trips to the grave and clear up as you go.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Hi Pansy, no I think our cemetary, st marylebone in east finchley, is tended, grass mown etc. May leave the machete behind then They've just told me that unless I have stone 'kerbs' around the grave to demarcate it (which we don't, I've found out), then it ought to be covered in grass By now, if it's abandoned. They look after that to some extent. They've said I'm allowed to remove any grass within the grave area if I want, to get my bulbs in, but that the grass mower man will go over in spring so not to plant and perennials. they actually suggested bulbs. I hope they won't mow my tulips etc when they're giving it the once over in April though
Hi Jess, not Hendon Crem by any chance? If not, this is one I go to on my dad's anniversary, and there are now alot of graves that are planted up with mixtures of perennials and annuals. The ones I noticed a lot were geraniums and also pelagoniums .
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I suppose it depends a bit if it's sunny or shady. My parents' grave is shaded by the woodland next door. My first husband's grave is in the sun in a graveyard in Dordogne. I planted rockery plants and spread pea gravel over it.
Thanks everyone for your ideas. I've been told over the phone that the plot is fairly open and exposed. It's in North London, so not too cold. Hadn't thought about geraniums obelixx, that's a good idea to cover bulb leaves. Wonder if it'll cope potentially being in bright sun with no watering...fuchsia a great idea. Hadn't realised they were so low maintenance wither.that's a lovely story Busy Lizzie
Snowdrops and primroses - that's what I want planted around me - and I have to be buried/scattered near where hazel catkins grow in the spring.
Picky? Moi?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Any thoughts on whether I'm ok to scatter poppy seeds now? Will they take next year if I do it this week?
now primroses I like the idea of too...good cover with all their leaves, for when bulb leaves are dying back.
As gravediggers, headstone makers and restorers, I would say have a look around at how the yard is kept, either the grasscutter or the council workers will most probably come along in the Spring and take the whole lot down to ground level.
In Devon there are rules in the churchyard, no flowers beyond 9 inches from the stone. Cemeteries a bit more lax but the grasscutter does like a nice clear space to get along with his ride on.
We dont tend the grounds now, but when we did, lots of stuff
that had died, soggy leaves etc, was a real pain, you have to pick it up before mowing or strimming, ts ok I suppose, if you make regular trips to the grave and clear up as you go.
Thank Lyn, very helpful.
Just to add, if its one like Kensal Green, left to go wild, you will need to tend regularly to weed it.
Hi Pansy, no I think our cemetary, st marylebone in east finchley, is tended, grass mown etc. May leave the machete behind then
They've just told me that unless I have stone 'kerbs' around the grave to demarcate it (which we don't, I've found out), then it ought to be covered in grass By now, if it's abandoned. They look after that to some extent. They've said I'm allowed to remove any grass within the grave area if I want, to get my bulbs in, but that the grass mower man will go over in spring so not to plant and perennials. they actually suggested bulbs. I hope they won't mow my tulips etc when they're giving it the once over in April though 
Thanks everyone xx
Hi Jess, not Hendon Crem by any chance? If not, this is one I go to on my dad's anniversary, and there are now alot of graves that are planted up with mixtures of perennials and annuals. The ones I noticed a lot were geraniums and also pelagoniums .