The loss of a relative doesn't just have to be de alt with emotionally. A death always involves coping with organizational and financial burdens. In addition to the classic costs of a funeral, there are other expenses for the resting place. Thanks to a wide range of offerings on the market, the expression of the highest appreciation for the deceased is not tied to the amount of financial expenditure. The following information about costs and planting provides more information about how to design an urn grave in an attractive setting for every budget.
Grave costs and burial fees
Before you start actually designing the urn grave, the grave site must be purchased in the cemetery. Paying this cemetery fee allows use for a certain period of rest, which is determined differently from region to region. Added to this are the costs of opening, lining and later closing the gravesite. The city or municipal administration has precise information about the specific amounts. There are differences of more than 1,000 euros nationwide, so the following overview serves as a representative example:
- Urn voting grave for 1-4 urns: 1,100 euros
- Funeral fees: 140 euros
- Storage of the urn until burial: 30 euros
Alternatively, communities sometimes offer the use of an urn chamber (columbarium) for an appropriate period of rest. The cost is around 2,100 euros for an urn, with no funeral fees.
Urn gravestone and surround
Once the grave site has completely settled a few months after the burial, the time has come for the actual urn grave design. Now it's time to find a perfect solution for the available budget. Popular models with the corresponding cost framework are presented below:
Traditional Tomb
Wooden crosses are now only very rarely found as gravestones. Rather, they are stone monuments with which an urn grave is decorated. A talented stonemason creates any desired motif. The costs for an individual creation are understandably higher than a mass-produced urn gravestone. In addition, the choice of material influences pricing. This is the cost framework to be expected:
From the hand of the sculptor:
- Elbe sandstone with a height of 80 cm and sculptural ornament: 2,700-2,900 euros
- Granite with a height of 80 cm, in individual shape: from 3,000 euros
- Marble with a height of 85 cm and detailed decoration: from 4,100 euros
From industrial series production:
- Himalaya with 60 cm height without labeling with base: from 1,100 euros
- Marble 65 cm high without inscription with base: from 1,200 euros
- Indish Black with 65 cm height without labeling without base: from 574 euros
The range between the two extremes presented is densely populated with providers of all stripes, although there are almost no upper limits when it comes to pricing.
Stone books as tombs
The grave book has emerged as a creative alternative to the classic gravestone when designing an urn grave. The dates of the deceased are engraved on the open, stone book pages. This creative form of a grave slab is placed on an existing stone slab, on decorative gravel or embedded in the earth. The nature of the material essentially determines the costs:
- Natural stone Aruba without inscription: 300-350 euros
- Inscription per letter: 6-25 euros
- Ornament in bronze: 79-119 euros
A skilled stonemason transforms this visualization of the motto 'carved in stone for eternity' into a tomb. Shaped as a gently curved, upright scroll, a gravestone tablet is created with space for individual mourning sayings. Of course, this luxury has its price. In granite the costs are between 4,150 and 6,980 euros.
Tip:
With an oval-shaped grave image you can give the urn grave a personal touch. Fired on porcelain, the cost for a small image measuring 4×6 cm is 28 euros, and for a size of 15×20 cm it is 100 euros. The picture is attached with a special adhesive.
Grave borders and grave slabs
With regard to the grave border, simple, square shapes have proven successful for the urn grave. Again, natural stones dominate as a material due to their longevity. In addition, when designing an urn grave, relatives decide to completely or partially cover the resting place with a grave slab if the time frame for care is limited. The following price level should be calculated:
- Himalaya, external dimensions 90×90 cm, 15 cm high, 10 cm thick: from 670 euros
- Himalaya, external dimensions 90×90 cm, 15 cm high, 15 cm thick: from 890 euros
- Marble, external dimensions 90×90 cm, 15 cm high, 15 cm thick: from 910 euros
Suitable grave slabs with a thickness of 6 cm can be found in natural stone in stores starting at just 160 euros. As soon as the shape of the cover is to be artistically formed, for example for a centrally exposed bed for planting, the costs increase proportionally to the effort.
Tip:
When it comes to the costs for the gravestone, border and gravestone, the transport costs to the urn grave should not be underestimated. Since natural stone is very heavy, this cost factor should always be taken into account when making a well-founded comparison.
Planting
An urn grave is significantly smaller than an earth grave and is therefore more cost-effective overall. This not only applies to the basic design with the tomb and border, but also extends to the planting. Of course, the limited space presents the gardener with a special challenge. The costs of an initial planting are explained in more detail below:
Planting idea for unshaded locations
If the urn grave is in a sunny location with dry, stony soil, fragrant and aromatic perennials are particularly suitable for planting. Once these have grown, hardly any care is required. The following plant package costs less than 30 euros:
- 1 x red coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus Superior')
- 1 x carmine-pink Pentecost carnation (Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Eydangeri')
- 1 x dark blue nettle (Agastache Rugosa hybrid 'Black Adder')
- 2 x creeping mountain savory in white (Satureja spicigera)
- 3 x cascade thyme in light purple (Thymus longicaulis)
Planting idea for semi-shady locations
A resting place under mighty trees is still sought after in German cemeteries. In this case, plants that are content with just a few hours of sunshine should be considered when choosing plants. The following plant package for the first planting costs less than 40 euros:
- 1 x red Lenten rose (Helleborus Orientalis hybrid 'Red Lady')
- 1 x Mountain Ilex (Ilex crenata 'Dark Green')
- 2 x shade sedge (Carex umbrosa)
- 2 x pink star umbel (Astrantia major)
- 3 x scented violets (Viola odorata)
Planting idea for cool, shady locations
The color combination green and white conveys an aura of calm, peace and quiet devotion in the cool shade. In the moist, humus-rich soil, robust forest shrubs and grasses thrive on an urn grave all year round. Care is limited to adding a little compost every now and then and pruning in the fall. The following plant package will take up just under 30 euros on your budget:
- 1 x white Christmas rose (Helleborus niger)
- 1 x medium-sized goat's beard (Aruncus Aethusifolius)
- 2 x Japan gold sedge in white with yellowish stripes (Carex oshimensis)
- 4 x white elf flower (Epimedium grandiflorum)
All planting ideas are optimized with suitable flower bulbs, which ensure delicate flowers on the urn grave in early spring.
Conclusion
A few weeks or months after the funeral, relatives are asked about a dignified urn grave design. Until then, the soil of the gravesite must settle and during this time it will be given temporary plants. This requirement gives the bereaved a sufficiently large window of time to make decisions regarding the gravestone, the enclosure or whether a gravestone will be used. Thanks to the large selection on the market, there is a representative design to choose from for every budget to express appreciation for the deceased. The spectrum extends from the artistic work of a sculptor to the services of a skilled stonemason to cost-effective and yet attractive offers from industrial series production. Considering the small area, the costs of planting are only slightly noticeable. This is especially true if relatives enjoy gardening.
