Grave landscaping is a personal process, bound up with preserving a memory and putting the grave in order. After the funeral, once the burial plot has been levelled and tidied, its boundaries are usually marked with a grave border. This element gives the grave a finished appearance, visually marks the edges of the burial plot and serves as the basis for further landscaping.
When a grave border may be installed after a burial is explained in the article When can a grave border be installed after a recent burial?
In this article we look in detail at:
- what types of grave borders there are
- how granite and concrete solutions differ
- how to choose an option that will last for many years and will not need complicated care.
The role of grave borders in memorial architecture
A grave border serves several purposes at once - aesthetic, practical and symbolic. It visually separates the place of remembrance from the rest of the cemetery, creates a well-kept setting and helps to form a peaceful, enclosed space.
The boundaries of a grave can be marked in different ways. In some cases, instead of a classic grave border, a low raised bed is made and planted with ground-cover plants or decorative planting. In such designs the choice of plants usually depends on the overall landscaping concept for the grave and on the soil conditions of the particular site.
However, SoulGarden's many years of experience show that most clients choose clearly defined grave borders. They allow the particular burial plot to be set apart more precisely and give the grave a finished, harmonious appearance.
Today non-standard designs are also used more and more often - diamond, heart, teardrop and other individually made shapes. Partly closed grave borders are also becoming popular, where part of the area is covered with decorative granite slabs in various shapes and configurations.
For family graves, borders are often made for two or more places, bringing the burials of several family members together in a single memorial ensemble.
Granite grave borders - a long-lasting natural stone solution
In Latvian cemeteries, granite grave borders are the most common choice. They are especially suitable when the overall design of the grave is created in a single style - with a monument or other granite elements made of the same material.
Why is granite one of the best solutions?
In terms of care and durability, granite is considerably more practical than most other materials. Although the initial cost is higher than for concrete products, in the long term it is a sound investment. Granite is a natural stone that keeps its appearance and properties for a long time. It withstands temperature changes, moisture and the other conditions of the Latvian climate, and it does not lose its colour in the sun.
SoulGarden offers a wide range of solutions:
- ready-made open, partly closed and fully closed granite grave borders;
- individual projects made from the client's sketches or drawings;
- granite slabs and individually designed grave elements
The advantages of engraving on granite
One of the most important advantages of granite is that engraving can be made directly in the surface of the stone. This means space can be planned in advance for memorial inscriptions, dates or other individual elements, keeping the design of the grave unified and aesthetic.
Types of granite structures in grave landscaping
The type of grave border and structure largely determines how much time and attention the grave will need for its care in the future. SoulGarden offers several types of granite solution, depending on the design of the grave, practical requirements and budget.
1. Granite grave borders
Granite grave borders are used to enclose the grave or to create separate areas for plants and decorative elements.
SoulGarden offers borders with straight or bevelled edges. We make single, one-and-a-half and double structures that fit harmoniously into the cemetery setting.
Available:
- open grave designs
- partly closed structures
- fully closed granite borders and slab systems
2. Partly closed and closed grave structures
These are among the most practical grave landscaping solutions. Granite structures of this kind are considerably easier to look after because:
- the area of exposed soil is reduced
- less care of plants is needed
- live plants can be done without entirely
The open areas can be filled with decorative stones, pebbles, coloured glass or other long-lasting materials. This is an especially suitable solution for people who visit the cemetery less often but want the grave to stay tidy and well kept all year round.
Read more about the balance between grave care and design on our blog: “Grave landscaping: the balance between aesthetics and easy care”.
3. Monolithic granite slabs
Monolithic granite slabs are technically more complex and visually more striking solutions, in which a single massive granite slab also serves as the surface of the grave.
Such slabs are usually made in the same thickness as the monument and from a single piece of granite. It is for this reason that the structure is especially long-lasting - it has no glued joints or separate parts that could deform or come apart over time.
Monolithic granite slabs can be further worked:
- with rounded edges
- with integrated bas-reliefs
- with various surface finishes
- by combining granite with other materials.
Tradition and modern solutions: from burial vaults to granite slabs
The history of granite slabs and closed grave structures goes back to ancient times. Massive sarcophagi and closed burial vaults were once typical of wealthy families and important memorial sites. In Riga such historical burials can still be seen at Pokrov Cemetery - one of the few places where historical burial vaults and sarcophagus-type burials have survived.
Today this tradition has taken on a more contemporary form. Granite slabs and closed structures are increasingly used in the landscaping of family graves, giving them a solid, monumental, orderly and visually elegant appearance.
Concrete grave borders - a practical budget solution
For those looking for a more economical solution, SoulGarden offers a range of standard concrete grave borders and grave fences.
Despite their simpler construction, concrete grave borders fully serve their purpose - they enclose the grave, help to keep it in order and create a tidy overall appearance.
Available in our catalogue:
- open concrete grave borders
- partly closed structures
- closed grave structures with an open corner
- fully closed concrete grave slabs
To make such structures more individual, granite or marble plaques with engraving can be set into them.
Graves for urns - contemporary traditions
Today cremation is increasingly in demand. At the same time, in both Latvia and Lithuania the tradition of burying ashes in the ground remains. The urn with the ashes is most often buried in the family grave or in a separately created plot.
The subsequent landscaping of the grave in such cases does not differ significantly from a traditional burial - a monument is installed and a grave border is made. However, urn burial plots are usually more compact than standard graves
If space in the family grave is limited, SoulGarden can make special compact grave borders for urn burials. If the structure is made of granite, its design is matched to the existing monuments and elements to keep the style of the grave unified.
Why entrust your grave landscaping to SoulGarden?
Choosing a grave border and a monument is a long-term decision. The design of a grave is usually created as a single ensemble, and our task is to carry out this concept accurately and to a high standard.
We understand that every project is different. Some choose classic black granite designs, others prefer light tones and planting, while for others what matters most is minimal grave care.
Working with SoulGarden, you receive:
- professional advice and help in choosing materials, taking the soil and climate conditions into account
- a wide choice of materials - from concrete to exclusive types of granite
- an individual approach if standard catalogue solutions do not match your vision
- quality workmanship and attention to detail - from the finishing of the edges to the quality of the engraving
A grave border and a monument are a lasting place of remembrance for a person. That is why it is important that the solution is well thought out, aesthetic and long-lasting, preserving the memory for future generations too.
