How To Create A Memorial Garden

A memorial garden is a living, loving tribute to someone you have lost, a place to sit, remember and feel close to them. It can be a whole garden or a single quiet corner, for a person or a treasured pet. This guide walks through how to create one, step by step.

Quick answer: To create a memorial garden, choose a private, sunny spot you can see from the house, then make it personal: scatter or bury the ashes there in a biodegradable urn, plant meaningful flowers or a memorial tree, and add personal touches like a plaque, a bench and soft lighting. There are no rules, so build something that reflects your loved one and gives you a peaceful place to return to.

Choosing the space

A memorial garden can be any size. Choose a spot that is private enough to retreat to, ideally one that catches plenty of sun so plants can thrive and the warmth feels comforting when you visit. If you can, pick somewhere visible from a window, so you feel close to your loved one even from indoors.

Including your loved one's ashes

To make the garden truly theirs, you can scatter the ashes into the ground and cover them with earth, or bury them in a biodegradable urn that returns them gently to the soil. If you would rather display an urn, our weather-resistant outdoor urns are made for the garden.

Planting flowers and a memorial tree

Plants bring a memorial garden to life. You might plant your loved one's favorite flowers, or choose blooms for their meaning, red roses for love, white lilies for purity and rebirth, or zinnias for friendship and remembrance. If you have the space, a memorial tree is a beautiful focal point, and you can grow one from the ashes using a biodegradable urn. See our guide on growing a tree from ashes.

Personal touches

There are no rules. Mark the spot with small fencing or stone borders, add a weatherproof photo, a stone statue (an angel, a dove, or a dog or cat for a pet), or something that belonged to them. An engraved stone plaque with their name and a short message or poem lasts for years and makes the space unmistakably theirs.

Seating and lighting

A bench, especially an engraved one, gives you and your family somewhere comfortable to sit and reflect together. Soft solar lights add a gentle glow for evening visits and are safe and low-maintenance; candles and lanterns work too, used carefully.

A garden as a help with grief

Creating and tending a memorial garden can be a quietly healing thing to do. It keeps you active and focused on something positive during a hard time, and leaves you with a permanent place to go and remember. If you are struggling, our support organisations page lists places that can help.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a memorial garden?

Choose a private, sunny spot, ideally visible from the house, then personalize it: scatter or bury the ashes there in a biodegradable urn, plant meaningful flowers or a memorial tree, and add touches like a plaque, a bench and soft lighting.

Can I put my loved one's ashes in a memorial garden?

Yes. On your own land you can scatter ashes into the ground or bury them in a biodegradable urn that breaks down naturally. Both let your loved one become part of the garden you create for them.

What flowers are good for a memorial garden?

Choose your loved one's favorites, or flowers with meaning: red roses for love, white lilies for purity and rebirth, and zinnias for friendship and remembrance. A mix of colors and a memorial tree work beautifully too.

Can I create a memorial garden for a pet?

Absolutely. The same ideas apply, and you can personalize it with their collar, a favorite toy, or a stone statue, with their ashes scattered or buried in a biodegradable urn.