Scattering Gardens for Ashes: How They Work and What to Ask

A scattering garden, also called a garden of remembrance, is a designated area at a cemetery, crematory or church where cremated remains are scattered or mixed into the soil. Some gardens let families do it, and others have staff handle it. Cemeteries set their own fees and rules, and the FTC Funeral Rule does not cover a cemetery without an on-site funeral home, so the most useful thing you can do is ask for prices and procedures in writing.

What is a scattering garden?

It is a maintained outdoor space set aside for scattering ashes instead of burying an urn. Some state laws recognize them. Florida's statute, for example, refers to a "licensed cemetery scattering garden or pond." Other memorial spaces at the same cemetery may look similar, so ask which one you are being offered:

How does scattering in a garden work?

Practices differ from one cemetery to the next, so ask what they do. Commonly:

• Scattered by staff. Many gardens ask cemetery staff to do the scattering, and the family may or may not attend.
• Scattered by the family. Some let family members scatter at a set time in a set area.
• Mixed into soil. Some gardens work the ashes into the soil instead of leaving them on the surface.

If you are not local, ask whether the garden accepts remains by mail. In the US, cremated remains can be shipped only with USPS Priority Mail Express, in a strong, sealed container inside the USPS cremated remains box. Our guide to shipping cremated remains explains the steps.

How much do scattering garden services cost?

We could not find a reliable national price range, and we are not going to guess. Cemeteries set their own fees. Ask for an itemized list that covers:

• the scattering itself, and whether it is witnessed or unwitnessed
• a scheduled ceremony, if you want one
• any record of the location
• a marker, plaque or memorial wall entry, and the cost of engraving
• annual or perpetual-care charges, if any

The FTC Funeral Rule gives you price lists and itemized statements from funeral homes. It does not apply to cemeteries that lack an on-site funeral home. That is why you should ask for the cemetery's prices in writing before you agree. Our guide to funeral home fees explains what a funeral home must disclose.

Are ashes safe for the soil and plants?

Cremated remains are ground bone fragments, not wood ash or compost. A heap of them may change the soil where it lands and harm plants, which is one reason gardens have rules about how to scatter.

• Scatter thinly over a wide area, and do not pour all the ashes in one spot.
• Ask staff where and how to scatter. Do not scatter on planted beds unless told to.
• Stand with the wind at your back, so ashes blow away from you.
• If you want a living memorial, use a product made to grow a tree from ashes instead of planting straight into the remains.

This is a general caution, not a measurement. We did not find an authoritative figure for how much ashes affect soil, so follow the garden's guidance.

How long does it take to arrange?

Timing depends on the cemetery, so ask. A sensible order of steps:

1. Find out who has the ashes and who has the right to decide. See what to do with ashes.
2. Call one or two cemeteries and ask about scattering gardens, fees, schedules and markers.
3. Choose a date that works for the people who want to come. Some families pick an anniversary or a season.
4. Order any marker or plaque early. Custom work is made to order, so ask for the lead time and whether it will be ready by the ceremony.
5. Get the confirmation in writing, including the location, who will scatter, and any record the cemetery will keep.

There is no national deadline for families who keep ashes at home. Funeral homes, though, may dispose of ashes nobody claims after the state holding period. See what happens to uncollected ashes.

What if you want a different place?

A scattering garden is often the simplest option, because the cemetery handles permission. Other places need their own permission and rules:

• Private land needs the owner's written consent. Texas law, for example, allows scattering on private property only with the owner's written consent.
• The ocean has an EPA rule: at least three nautical miles from land, and a report to the EPA within 30 days. See scattering ashes at sea.
• National parks and other public land have their own rules. See scattering ashes anywhere.
• Your own garden is usually possible. Read burying ashes in a garden and memorial gardens for ashes first.

What to do next

1. Decide whether you want to attend, or prefer a mail-in option.
2. Ask two cemeteries for written prices and their scattering rules.
3. Ask about markers, plaques and the lead time.
4. Keep the confirmation and the location record with your family papers.