The graves in Wiesbaden's other cemeteries are also living biotopes. Native, site-appropriate perennials and herbs such as yarrow, wild carrot or stonecrop are robust, easy to care for and give pleasure all year round. They attract bees, butterflies and birds and turn the grave into a little paradise. Ground cover plants such as ivy, sand thyme, guelder rose and woodruff keep the soil moist, reduce weeds and give the grave a neat appearance.

You can do without chemical fertilizers and pesticides when caring for graves, and they are prohibited in Wiesbaden cemeteries anyway. Natural gardening is also possible with compost, bark mulch or leaves. Autumn leaves left lying around provide a natural shelter for insects and small mammals. Dry fruit clusters of flowering plants can be left standing in winter: the birds will thank you for it.

Peat-free potting soil, which can now be bought in almost all DIY stores, protects bogs. These are not only a habitat for rare animals and plants, they also store harmful greenhouse gases. Every use of peat-free soil is a simple yet effective contribution to combating climate change.

Grave decorations made of plastic pollute the environment and do not fit in with a place of remembrance close to nature. Arrangements made from twigs, cones or dried flowers are much more beautiful. They are long-lasting, compostable and full of life.

Choose natural stones of European origin for the gravestone. You may have noticed how rare lichens and mosses grow on unpolished gravestones over time. Please: Do not cover the graves of your loved ones with grave slabs and stones. Where gravel, chippings or granite seal the ground, rainwater cannot seep away. Planted, unsealed graves act like a sponge, absorbing rainwater and releasing moisture exactly when it is needed.