Grave Planting by Season: What's Planted When
Spring, summer, autumn, winter — the Düsseldorf grave planting calendar, honest and without kitsch.
Grave planting isn't a one-off — it's a year-round care cycle. Four times a year (spring, summer, autumn, winter) the grave gets fresh planting matched to season and the deceased.
Spring (March–May): pansies, horned violets, forget-me-nots, primroses. Bring early colour, frost-resistant. Classic spring planting in pastels. Usually planted mid-March, lasts to early June.
Summer (June–August): begonias, geraniums, small boxwood accents, lavender, sage. Robust against heat but need regular watering. Infrequent visitors should choose drought-resistant varieties (lavender, sedum).
Autumn (September–November): heather (erica), asters, small chrysanthemums. Classic All Saints' planting — low-maintenance, blooms until first frost. Usually planted early October for All Saints' on November 1.
Winter (December–February): fir branches, evergreens, Christmas rose (Helleborus). Mainly structural evergreen elements. Often decorated with small fir cones and berries for Advent.
All Saints' special: October 25 to November 1 is Düsseldorf cemetery peak. We produce hundreds of grave arrangements and plantings in these weeks. Lead time of 1–2 weeks recommended.
Cemetery rules: each Düsseldorf cemetery (Nord, Süd, Stoffeler, Stockum, Lohausen, etc.) has its own planting rules. Some allow tall plants, others only low. Some prohibit plastic accents, some wooden crosses, etc.
Maintenance interval: typically relatives visit graves every 1–2 weeks. If you can't, you can commission us with grave care — we come, water, remove wilted material, top up as needed.
What we recommend against: year-round plastic flowers (looks sad), overly colourful summer planting in conservative cemetery contexts, ready-made discount bowls (often don't last the season).
Cost: individual seasonal planting €40–120 depending on grave size and varieties. Year-round care as a subscription (4 seasonal changes + monthly maintenance) €350–700 per year.
Frequently asked
- Do you offer grave care as a service?
- Yes — quarterly planting plus monthly care (watering, removing wilted material, irrigation check). Inquire via the contact form with cemetery and grave number.
- Which plants survive longest without care?
- Sedum, lavender, boxwood, small oak elements as structure. Visiting only monthly: rely on these drought-tolerant varieties.
- When is the grave winterised?
- Right after All Saints' (early November). Autumn planting is replaced with fir greenery and evergreens. Christmas rose often blooms by December.