A living plant offers a permanent, growing tribute that contrasts with the temporary nature of cut flowers. This memorial establishes a garden space for reflection and a lasting connection with the person remembered. Creating this tribute requires selecting the right species and understanding the care needed to transition the plant from an indoor setting to a permanent place in the landscape.
Plants with Enduring Symbolic Meaning
Certain perennial flowers and shrubs are traditionally chosen for memorial gardens because of the specific sentiments they represent. Selecting species with established meaning deepens the personal significance of the planting.
Shrubs offer a structural, long-term presence that anchors the garden space. The rosebush is a universal choice, with red signifying devotion and white representing purity or innocence. Lilacs are associated with remembrance, making them a fragrant, springtime addition to the memorial landscape.
Perennial flowers bring seasonal color and texture, often carrying meanings related to memory and renewal. Forget-me-nots are tied to remembrance and enduring love, providing a carpet of delicate blue blooms. Daffodils represent rebirth and new beginnings, appearing early in spring as a hopeful sign of continuity. Lilies symbolize the return of innocence and peace, making them a common choice that can later be established in the garden.
Successfully Transplanting Common Potted Funeral Gifts
Many plants received as funeral gifts, such as peace lilies, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums, are initially grown for indoor display and require careful handling before outdoor planting. The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a tropical plant generally only hardy for permanent outdoor placement in USDA Zones 10b to 12. In all other climates, it must be treated as a seasonal plant that returns indoors before temperatures drop below 55°F.
Before moving any indoor plant outdoors, it must undergo “hardening off” to acclimate its tissues to increased light, wind, and temperature fluctuations. Over seven to fourteen days, gradually increase the plant’s exposure, beginning with one hour in a shaded, sheltered outdoor location. Increase the time outdoors by an hour each day, slowly introducing the plant to more direct sun and wind exposure.
For cold-hardy perennials like potted hydrangeas and chrysanthemums, the transition must be gradual to prevent leaf scorch and transplant shock. Once acclimated, inspect the root ball for tight circling roots, which should be gently loosened or scored with a knife before planting. Transplanting in early spring or fall, when the weather is mild, helps the plant establish roots before the stress of summer heat or winter cold.
Establishing the Memorial Garden
Successful long-term planting relies on preparing the site to meet the needs of the chosen plants. Proper drainage is paramount, as standing water quickly leads to root rot and plant failure. For areas with heavy clay soil, amend the planting site by incorporating organic matter like compost or aged manure, which improves aeration and water movement.
Digging a planting hole two to three times wider than the plant’s root ball allows new roots to easily expand into the surrounding, loosened soil. When replanting, ensure the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil to prevent water from pooling around the stem. A raised planting bed, 6 to 12 inches high, is an effective way to guarantee good drainage, especially in areas prone to waterlogging.
Ongoing maintenance focuses on stabilizing the soil environment and protecting the plant from temperature extremes. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or wood chips, two to four inches deep over the root zone. This layer helps to regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and suppress weed growth.
Avoid piling the mulch directly against the plant’s stem or trunk, as this retains too much moisture and can lead to decay. For winter protection in colder regions, apply the mulch only after the ground has frozen to prevent premature growth cycles. Also, ensure the plants have adequate moisture in late fall before the ground freezes to prevent desiccation during the winter months.