Are pet ashes good for plants ?

Are Pet Ashes Good For Plants?

It’s possible that you’ll experience an odd sense of relief after deciding what to do with your pet’s ashes.

Once you’ve taken the time to contemplate what’s best for your pet, it’s time to think about the practicalities of the situation.

By interring them in the ground and creating a memorial for your beloved pet, many of us hope to bring them back into the natural world.

So, Are pet ashes safe to use on plants? The answer is a Big NO.

Pet ash or “cremains” (simply pulverised bone remains) have little to no nutritional value and can be toxic to plants & trees. The cremation ashes may be harmful when placed in high concentrations in the soil or around trees or plants.

Due to the fact that ashes contain a high concentration of calcium and so enhance the pH level of the soil, this is the case, A buildup of calcium in the soil can quickly deplete the nitrogen supply and may even prevent photosynthesis from taking place. High pH levels have a negative impact on soil microorganisms and soil structure, as well as nutrient leaching and availability, among other things.

This, on the other hand, should not prevent you from returning your animal buddy to the memorial ground in your backyard.

There are methods for accomplishing this without jeopardising your ideas for the memorial place in question.

I explain why pet ashes are damaging to plants and trees in the next section, and I also provide alternatives to burying your best friend’s ashes so that you can still construct a memorial area for your best furry companion.

Why Are Pet Ashes Harmful To Plants And Trees?

It appears logical that ashes from cremated remains of your pet would be beneficial to plants, but cremains has a high alkaline and sodium content that is far from beneficial.

Both high pH levels and excess sodium discourage plant growth by preventing the absorption of essential nutrients.

This happens regardless of whether the ashes are buried or scattered on top of the ground.

Neutralising cremation ashes is the safest way to bury ashes or scatter cremains while also ensuring the viability of the memorial garden. Regular garden soil is incapable of buffering the high pH levels of cremains.

Furthermore, amending the soil will not address the high sodium content. Fortunately, there are a plethora of options.

Alternatives to Directly Burying Ashes in the Ground

Purchasing a Cremation Soil Mixture :

The price and methodology of products marketed to neutralise cremation ashes and make planting with cremains would vary. One option is to buy a soil cremation mixture that is intended to lower the pH and dilute the sodium content of the ashes.

When cremains are added to this mixture, it creates a safe way to bury ashes in a memorial garden or scatter ashes on top of the ground.

This method suggests allowing the ash/addition mixture to sit for at least 90 to 120 days before using it in the garden.

The safe balanced and stable soil is the way to blend the ash cremains into soil so the ash would become safe for spreading, scattering and even planting.

Biodegradable urns

Biodegradable urns are environmentally friendly cremation urns that are made from 100 percent natural materials and will naturally biodegrade over time, improving the environment around it.

Knowing that a loved one has been laid to rest and has become a part of the environment is a very comforting feeling.

Biodegradable urns are classified into three types:

Cremation urns made of biodegradable materials. These urns are only intended for burying ashes. These will not produce any trees or plants.

If you use a biodegradable urn, consider planting a tree with it or adding a memorial plaque, rock, marker, or bench to mark the location of the ashes.

Living urns or biodegradable tree urns: These urns are frequently made of natural plant fibres and allow you to plant a plant or tree in memory of your pet.

Water Urns: These urns are meant to disintegrate in water. This decomposition can take anywhere from one to thirty minutes.

Nondegradable urns

High pH levels have a negative impact on soil microorganisms and soil structure, as well as nutrient leaching and availability, among other things.

This, on the other hand, should not prevent you from returning your animal buddy to the memorial ground in your backyard.

There are methods for accomplishing this without jeopardising your ideas for the memorial place in question.

Final Thoughts

For those who are happy to keep the ashes in the garden indefinitely, bury them in a biodegradable urn in a lovely, deep hole in the ground.

If you want to keep the alkalinity down, it’s vital that the ashes are either mixed with soil or buried very deeply.

You may want to mark the location with a plant or some other form of marker to guarantee that it is not disturbed in the future. It might be a good idea to get the whole family involved.

Lollipop sticks can be used to create a marker by laminating a favourite photograph and attaching it to the stick.

Planting a memorial garden in honour of a beloved pet can be a highly effective method for youngsters to cope with their grief.

If you feel you want to keep your Pet Ashes next to you and feel that can help you grieve better – Here is what you can do.

Pet Ash can be stored in many ways: I have listed a few items that can be purchased from Amazon.

For more about pets’ farewell see our other articles below

About the Author: Dog Behavioural Consultant

Jennifer W loves Pets! She is an animal lover. She loves caring for and sharing her knowledge of all kinds of pets.

Her Love for pets made her Join the pet paws hub Team, to share knowledge with the world.

Jennifer W – Dog Behavioural Consultant