After a lush bloom in spring with primroses, horned violets, Bellis and many onion flowers, when you go to the cemetery at the end of May at the latest, you realize that a new grave planting is necessary. The grave design should also be attractive in summer and easy to maintain. There are suitable species for every season and in combination with evergreen, ivy and hardy ground covers, an easy-care grave design can also take place in the summer months. But which varieties are suitable in summer? The possibilities are many and the selection is large. Below you will find out which possible grave plants there are for summer and autumn, how to find the right planting and what you need to consider when planting.

What types of grave planting are there?

Comparable to a bed in the garden, it is also important in the cemetery to cleverly combine the mixture of permanent plants (ground cover such as cotoneaster, vinca periwinkle, ivy) and seasonal plants. This minimizes the maintenance effort and the last resting place always looks well cared for. There are basically two types of grave planting:

permanent planting

This includes all perennial plants such as ground cover, ivy, euonymus, small shrubs, perennials or grasses. The special advantage: These mostly evergreen varieties are hardy, are planted permanently and are often still very attractive in shape in winter. Depending on the variant, their growth character is flat, spherical or upright. A solitary plant with a compact growth is often planted in addition to the tomb. When choosing, look for slow-growing shrubs, these are usually compact in growth and shapely even without cutting. With the easy-care planting, it is also possible to care for graves without, if you do not live in the immediate vicinity. Cemetery gardeners recommend a mix of permanent and rotating plantings of at least 60:40 as a guide. If the proportion of perennial plants in the grave design is larger, the effort for care is minimized.

alternating planting

This includes all genera that are planted for a specific period of time. Some of these grave plants are only on the grave for weeks, but show the colors of the respective season. In the spring z. Pansies , horned violets, bulb plants and daisies add color to the graves after the dark and gray winter months. Many grave plants with brightly colored flowers and structural plants with expressive leaves are suitable for summer planting from May to late summer. In autumn and winter, graves are filled with bud heather, Christmas rose, horned violets and pansies, among other thingsadorned. In addition, grave arrangements or fir are suitable for covering the area.

Tip: If possible, choose species that are slow-growing for permanent planting. This ensures that the grave design looks neat without frequent pruning.

What advantages does a combination of different grave plants and planting types offer?

If the grave is planted from a combination of perennial permanent planting and seasonal alternating planting, there are significant advantages:

• Varied appearance due to the seasonally different flowering plants. With the summer grave planting, you will experience a firework of colors and blossoms over months.
• Minimized watering effort, since the permanent planting is already established at the location. Perennial grave plants are more robust and easier to care for.
• Reduced weed growth through permanent planting. Especially low-maintenance ground covers make the final resting place look neat and clean because the earth is covered.
• Continuously cultivated appearance

Less effort and time saved when planting, because the perennial species do not have to be replaced.

Which varieties are suitable for grave planting in summer?

For seasonal planting from the beginning of May, the selection of possible genera is very extensive. The location of the tomb is important for the selection of the plants. The grave design summer can be changed every year and thus allows a different picture again and again.

For example, the following varieties are suitable for sunny locations

• • Ice begonia (Begonia semperflorens) is most commonly found on graves in summer planting. The compact-growing, persistently flowering ice begonias tolerate sunny and semi-shady locations. The group with the thick-fleshed leaves tolerates dry, hot summers without any problems with an even water supply. Common are white, pink, salmon, red, sometimes with double flowers. When planted densely, ice begonias act as ground cover. The soil is quickly covered and unwanted weeds are suppressed.
  • The cushion phlox also brings a magnificent splendor of flowers to the grave of your loved ones in spring. The plant beautifies the grave in delicate shades of color such as white, pink or blue.
  • Edellieschen (Impatiens New Guinea hybrids) have conquered a permanent place in the cemetery with new breeds in recent years. The bushy, compact growing group blooms plentifully and is diverse in flower shape.
  • Standing geraniums (Pelargonium zonale) love warm and sunny places. They also do well in extreme locations such as in bowls on stone slabs in full sun. Single-flowering geraniums do not need to be trimmed, they will surely continue to flower and are easier to care for than double-flowering types.
  • Alyssum (Lobularia martima) is a white or purple perennial bloomer with fine flowers, which is a valuable food source for bees and other insects for months. Grows flat like a ground cover and covers the soil during the summer.
  • Marigolds (Hybrids of Tagetes) have a great long-distance impact with their thick balls of yellow or orange flowers . They tolerate a sunny, but also semi-shady location and are absolutely easy to care for.
  • Small-flowered pot roses are a lovely alternative for full sun alternating beds. Hardly any flower is such a strong symbol as the red rose, which also speaks for the queen of flowers on the tomb.
  • Magic snow (Euphorbia hybrids ‘Diamond Frost’) are filigree creatures that, like gypsophila with fine white flowers, blend picturesquely into any composition. Magic snow is decorative all summer long, tolerates the sun and blooms tirelessly without a break.

The cushion thyme is an evergreen ground cover that grows flat and delights with white and pink flowers. The plant impresses with its low maintenance requirements, is robust and hardy.

For semi-shady to shady locations, the following varieties are possible for grave design in summer

• • • With its small flowers, the hard-working Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana ), preferably in partially shaded and shady beds, ensures a rich bloom throughout the summer. The choice of colors is almost unmanageable. With appropriately dense planting, impatiens act like ground cover and grow flat.
    • Japanese myrtle (Cuphea hyssopilla) convinces in pink, white or two-tone. With a well-branched habit, this myrtle is ideal for decorating graves in delicate tones or in bowls.
    • Tuberous begonias (Begonia tuberhybrida ), like ice begonias, are among the classics in the cemetery. But bulbous begonias are real shade lovers, and they usually come with double flowers in a variety of colors.
    • Standing fuchsias (fuchsia hybrids) are popular grave plants for partial shade. The bell-shaped flowers are available in many different varieties.

All grave plants listed are annuals and not hardy. The range of possible grave plants varies depending on the season, many other undemanding representatives can be found in the area of ​​perennials and seasonal plants. These variants are planted in late spring and, under good conditions, they will provide lasting color well into autumn.

Buy bedding plants

Tip: Lush blooms on the grave are only possible with a sufficient supply of nutrients. A dose of organic fertilizer when planting is ideal. Kölle organic natural fertilizer or Kölle organic garden fertilizer is best suited. Both release the nutrients slowly and can work for months.

How is the summer grave planting done?

Which summer planting you choose depends largely on what you like best. It is important that plants from the individual groups can also be mixed to create attractive plantings. Instructions for planting:

1. The root ball should be sufficiently watered before planting.
2. The area to be planted should be well loosened.
3. When planting, 1 to 2 handfuls of high-quality Kölle’s Beste planting soil are placed in each planting hole.
4. When planting, put Kölle Bio Root Power in the planting hole. This promotes rooting and the mycorrhiza fungi make the plants more resistant to drought. When planting, loosen the root crown of the ball slightly to make rooting easier.

After planting, you should water the flowers thoroughly.

Regular fertilization is necessary for a rich pile. For this we recommend Kölle Bio Natur-Dünger, the environmentally friendly solution for nitrogen-rich fertilization with a reduced phosphate content.

The grave planting for the summer can begin from mid-May and should be completed by the end of June if possible. This gives the grave plants enough time to establish themselves in the ground and be rooted until the summer heat arrives. With good care, the picture is visually appealing until the first frost in autumn and a new replacement is only necessary after the night frosts in October or November.

Tip: Use 12 to 20 pieces per square meter depending on the pot size. The summer flowers sometimes grow to twice their initial volume, so that by summer the ground is covered after just 6 weeks. If you use less, the ground will not be covered until autumn and the effort for care is greater.

The 6 most important utensils for grave planting

In order to make the grave design easy to care for, summer and winter, you need the right equipment in addition to beautiful plants and grave decorations. We will introduce you to the 6 most important grave care products that will make it easier for you to plant cemetery flowers on the grave.

With a small broom you leave the grave neat and clean at the end of the care.

Handy shovels belong in every repertoire and help you when digging small planting holes. The size of the shovel is ideal for taking to the cemetery.

With small garden forks, the soil can be loosened up or unwanted weeds can be easily removed. The handy garden fork can also be taken to the cemetery without any problems.

With a knee pillow you can protect and protect your knees during the grave planting. In addition, your clothes stay clean. After use, the knee cushion can simply be washed off if necessary. This way you can prevent knee pain during and after grave maintenance.

The grave soil is ideal for grave planting, as its dark color also gives the grave a subtle decoration.

Gardening gloves provide optimal protection during the entire grave care and also have a good grip in the hands. Plant care leaves no traces on your hands.

5 reasons why a plant is suitable for grave design in summer:

1. The plant species is robust.
2. The need for water is not too high.
3. The plant blooms without a long break throughout the summer.
4. Flowers do not need to be trimmed, ie the plant itself sheds the faded flowers.

It is not susceptible to diseases and pests.

Ideally, combine bedding plants with perennial species. For example, periwinkles bloom in spring, and seasonal plants add color for summer. With a clever combination, a low-maintenance grave can be created. Once planned, it can be changed again and again with new ideas in addition to the tombstone. Our specialist staff in our garden centers will be happy to answer any further questions you may have.

Ground cover, perennials and grasses

Cotoneaster Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Friders Evergreen’ `Radicans´ or `Stribes Findling`

white flowers in May, red berries in late summer

Creeping medlarEuonymus fortunei ‘Minimus’

weak growing

Blue fescue Festuca glauca ‘Compact Blue’

blue-grey color

Bearskin Grass FescueFestuca scoparia ‘Pit Carlit’

light green, compact growth

PeriwinkleVinca minor ‘Marie’

Flowers in blue, maximum 10 cm high

Roofleek/Houseleek Sempervivum hybrids

form a rosette, do not require pruning, symbolize eternal life Professional tip: Our Plants AZ can also be of help, because there you can find out how star moss care works, for example, or how you should plant your evergreens. Grave decorations for an individual grave design, summer & winter

In addition to the grave planting, individual grave decorations are very popular in order to create a harmonious picture and at the same time to make the grave very personal according to one’s own preferences and the preferences of the deceased. In this way, the place of mourning can be designed very tastefully and commemorate the deceased.

Grave lights and lanterns are a real classic and a sign of remembrance and hope. They light up the tomb and are very much appreciated by many people.

Grave vases are also a common sight in cemeteries, as they can be beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and branches. The flowers are exchanged regularly so that appropriate cemetery flowers adorn the grave for different occasions. A special bouquet is usually chosen on Totensonntag, birthdays and public holidays such as Christmas and Easter. This makes for a nice change. A noble grave vase is a wonderful nostalgic greeting to the deceased.

Grave decorations for planting: Beautiful shapes such as a heart are ideal for individual grave planting. These forms can be added to the grave and give it a personal touch. Also popular are grave arrangements that adorn the grave in detail with different materials. The grave arrangements last for several weeks and are weatherproof.

Grave garlands are particularly modern, made of weather-resistant and durable materials that can be loosely placed around a grave light, gravestone or urn. These garlands stand out from the typical grave design and can be designed very individually and personalized. You can read more about this in our blog post about the grave garlands.

Are you looking for more ideas for your grave planting? A walk through the cemetery is worthwhile in both summer and winter. You will find numerous examples of which plants are beautiful in combination. Otherwise, you can find more ideas for beautiful, stylish grave planting on our Pinterest page.

Have you had to say goodbye to a loved one? With our mourning and memorial flowers you can pay your last respects to the deceased. You can stylishly decorate graves and urns with numerous flower arrangements, wreaths and bouquets.
The florists from Pflanzen-Kölle have many years of experience in mourning and memorial flowers and will be happy to advise you in our garden centers. Find out more about our funeral floral service.

Attractive grave planting in spring
In spring there are many ways to make a grave beautiful. We’ll show you how to do it.

grave planting spring

Attractive grave planting in autumn and winter
In the cold season, special grave care is required. We’ll show you the best way to do it.