Our process

• After burial, each burial mound is allowed to settle from between a few weeks to several months, depending on the season of burial and condition of the site.

• Greensprings staff will then remove large stones, gently rake and smooth the soil on the burial mound, and add a layer of wood chips in preparation for a fall planting of native perennials.

• The wood chips act to reduce weed competition, build the soil on top of the burial mound, and create a moisture-protective mulch for the plants that will be planted later.

• All woodchips are from an on-site woodchip pile, and plants will be available at no charge from our on-site Greensprings nursery, grown especially for the burial mound plantings.

• Planting is scheduled during our annual Fall Planting Days events, usually in September or early October.  Family and friends are welcome to participate alongside Greensprings staff and volunteers.

• If you would like to select the perennials that are planted on your loved one’s burial mound or participate in any other way, please reach out to your Burial Coordinator.  We are glad to show you the nursery plants and answer any questions.

 FAQs

Why are only these plants appoved?

The plants on the Stewardship Committee's approved planting list (right) have been selected because they are native species, provide excellent and diverse wildlife food and habitat, and because they can survive (and even benefit from) the process of mowing. Non-native plants will be removed.

What is the mowing schedule?

To maintain open meadowland, burial meadows are mowed mid to late fall including over settled burial mounds. Recent planting are marked with landscape poles ahead of mowing. Non-burial meadowlands are mowed on a rotating schedule not less than once every three years.

Memorial Tree & Shrub Plantings

We don’t allow the planting of trees or shrubs in most burial areas because the roots can extend into empty neighboring lots. An exception is the Sequential Burial Area in the West Meadow.

The Board of Trustees, with guidance from the Stewardship Committee, has approved this list of native trees and shrubs for planting in the Sequential Burial Area. Please reach out to Greensprings staff for more information about our planting guidelines for this section.