Pet memorial landscaping – design the perfect area to suit

The word landscaping immediately strikes fear into some people, but it doesn't have to! When we talk about landscaping in the context of pet memorials – or layout – we're actually talking about something very simple: creating an environment where you can make the most of remembering your pet, just the way you want to. The good news is that you don't have to be a landscape gardener, or even have any experience of gardening, to make it work. In the first blog on Pets At Rest in a while, we'll cover the fundamental things that you'll need to consider.

Should you memorial be a busy, quiet or colourful area?

As with everything permanent, the surroundings of a pet memorial – as well as the memorial of course – demand a fair bit of consideration. One way of coming up with a memorial which suits you is to sit down and make a note of all the feelings you would like to have when you see the space, as well as the things you are trying to achieve.

For example, Jackie is remembering a Golden Retriever by the name of Stevey. Now, Stevey was a very colourful character indeed. A fan of mucking about in rivers and getting utterly filthy, he always inspired laughter in his owner. When Stevey died, his owner decided she wanted Stevey's personality to come through with vibrant colours as the centre piece. On the list for things she wanted to achieve were the following things: a space which got plenty of light, with lots of colours, free from getting water-logged. It had to be simple enough not to cost the earth and very fun too, too. With these things in mind, the conclusion for creating the pet memorial was easy to reach: a simple granite memorial would be as classy as Stevey was, and the area would also utilise chippings to drain water easily. Finally, resilient flowers give the area that colourful, fun look she really wanted. Put the memorial in a space free of shadows – a place which gets plenty of light in the afternoon,when she likes to enjoy the space – and you have all the ingredients for the right kind of memorial. One that Stevey would have been proud of, no less.

Using flowers to enhance your memorial area

Not sure where to start with flowers? Well, it's always worth keeping in mind that Bleeding Heart, Baby's Breath and the humble Forget-me-not are firm favourites. Another intriguing idea is to plant flowers that attract wildlife such as bees, butterflies and moths. For the more spiritual of you, you might wish to select flowers which hold a special meaning too. Bellflower, for instance, means thinking of you, while Daisy means innocence (Stevey's owner selected Heliotrope, which means devotion).

It's also worth remembering that in most cases, a concrete base or weed control sheets will be required to use decorative chippings to ensure the area stays looking great. Chippings are a clever way to keep things nice and simple – they come in almost every single colour, from Iced white to black and dark green – and stones can also give a pleasing appearance.