Care Plans

Cemeteries are generally large and expansive pieces of land, making it hard for the maintenance staff to properly and thoroughly tend to each and every individual gravesite. Their priority is to maintain the grounds, roads, and cemetery buildings as a whole first. It is not practical for a cemetery’s landscaping crew to provide the level of attention that many families desire for their loved one’s final resting place.

Serene & Green will tend your family member’s gravesite (or multi-grave family plot) throughout the year, giving the site the detailed attention and consistent care it deserves.

As is seasonally appropriate, we will complete the following tasks:

• Remove windblown debris and litter, including raking leaves and picking up sticks.

• Pull weeds from around the marker and within the grave area.

• Deadhead flowers, trim plants, and mulch any planted areas.

• Hand-trim grass around the marker and give the grave area a fresh mow.

• Add grass seed to any bare patches in the turf.

• Dethatch, aerate, and fertilize the turf.

• Water the entire site.

• Lightly clean the gravestone, removing any dried grass thrown by mowing equipment.

• Remove any collected material (weeds, twigs, leaves, spent flowers, etc.) from the site.

• Email a photo to all designated family members.

Each plan is customized to meet your needs, but a few samples are outlined below. Annual plan pricing is guided by: location of cemetery; number of plots and size of lawn area to be maintained; size of planting area; whether there are perennials or shrubs to tend; and whether you’d like seasonal annuals planted and/or a wreath delivered. Travel fees may be added for locations outside the 10-mile radius of Villanova, PA.

The Forget-Me-Not Plan ($800+) provides a minimum of twelve maintenance visits, including all materials needed for upkeep; site will be visited more than once per month in the height of the growing season to keep it well-kept. Annual plantings are an additional fee. Family plots can be treated as a single visit, depending on the situation.

The Eternal Blooms Plan ($600+) includes six maintenance visits to the gravesite, including two plantings of annuals as well as a wreath delivery: Spring clean-up (March), Spring planting (May), Fall planting (September), Winter clean-up and wreath delivery (late November), as well as two watering visits between plantings.

The Simply Serene Plan ($250+) includes three maintenance visits to the gravesite: Spring clean-up (March), Mid-Summer (late June/early July), and Fall clean-up (October). Annual plantings are an additional fee.

Some clients prefer a single annual clean-up, or occasional assistance with watering and caretaking. We can fulfill those requests as well. Whatever your needs are, we can design a care plan just for you. Contact us to discuss your specific needs.

FLORAL DELIVERIES

Fresh floral arrangements, ribbon-tied bouquets, or potted plants may be placed at a gravesite in remembrance of holidays (Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, and Thanksgiving, to name a few) or on other special occasions, such as a birthday or anniversary. Wreaths and holiday planters may be placed during the Christmas season.

Single deliveries begin at $75 plus tax. The Blooming Package ($250 plus tax) includes four floral placements per year to the same gravesite, on the dates of your choosing. For example, a package could include a Christmas wreath; a pot of Easter bulbs; a floral delivery on Mother’s/Father’s Day; and a bouquet to honor your family member’s birthday. We will email a photo of each delivery to all designated family members. We strive to deliver all arrangements on the designated date; at times, it may be delivered a few days before or after.

A delivery fee will be added for cemetery locations outside a 10-mile radius of Villanova.

GRAVESIDE GARDENS

Blooming flowers and lush groundcover surrounding the headstone of a loved one provide ongoing color and beauty throughout the season.

Working within each cemetery’s guidelines and using the amount of space available to plant, Serene & Green can design a unique small-scale garden for your family member’s gravesite. Plans may include annuals, perennials, bulbs, groundcovers, and/or small shrubs. We select low-maintenance plants that will stay compact.

Garden design, installation, and maintenance plans are individually priced. We will make a complimentary visit to the site and develop a proposal for your consideration.

We always check with the cemetery administrator before undertaking any planning or planting. In some instances, due to cemetery regulations, Serene & Green may design the garden and purchase the plantings, while allowing cemetery staff to manage the installation.

HEADSTONE CLEANING

Over time, lichen, moss, and mold can adhere to a stone marker. A non-ionic, biological cleaner can brighten up the stone and slow future growth. Pricing depends on the size and condition of the marker. Pricing ranges from $60-$200/marker, depending on size and condition. Average fee: $75 per upright headstone. $125 per flat-style ledger stone.

FAQs

Who uses your gravesite maintenance and beautification services, and why?

Our clients use our services for a wide variety of reasons, including:

• Individuals who are grateful to visit their family members’ gravesites without the burden of maintenance tasks.

• Seniors who are no longer able to tend to their loved ones’ graves.

• Those who are uncomfortable visiting a cemetery, but find solace in knowing their loved ones are remembered.

• Adults whose work schedules do not allow them time to care for their family members’ graves.

• Friends and family members who live too far away to visit on a regular basis.

• People who need a message or item delivered on a special day.

Isn’t the cemetery responsible for maintenance of gravesites?
Cemeteries provide basic property maintenance such as mowing the grass, removing large branches, and maintaining the roads.  However, most cemeteries will not perform individual gravesite tasks, such as weeding a site, maintaining the turf, cleaning headstones, mulching plantings, or trimming and edging grass. It is not practical for their landscaping crew to provide the level of attention that many families desire for their loved one’s final resting place.

I pay for perpetual care so why do I need a separate grave tending service?
Perpetual care (also known as endowed or permanent care) funds are used for general maintenance and repair of cemetery grounds.  The family is responsible for caring for the headstone and keeping the gravesite neat and clean.

How often do you provide care at a gravesite?
Our Forget-Me-Not Service provides year-round visits, ensuring that the site is tidy and well-groomed at all times. Some individuals only request an annual clean-up of the site or watering during the growing season. You can determine what frequency fits your needs.

Do you offer a discount to care for several gravesites that are located nearby or within the same cemetery?
Yes, an entire family plot (up to 8 gravesites) is included in the Forget-Me-Not Service fee.

What do you mean by a light cleaning of the headstone?
Water is generally all that is needed to clean a well-maintained headstone. That said, over time, lichen, moss, and mold can adhere to a stone marker. A non-ionic, biological cleaner can brighten up the stone and slow future growth. The average fee for this added service is $75 per headstone. Pricing depends on the size and condition of the marker. This level of cleaning should only be necessary every few years.

What do you deliver?
We deliver fresh floral arrangements, ribbon-tied bouquets, potted plants, wreaths, grave blankets, cards, photos, or other items that you request. We do not deliver artificial flowers.

What if the cemetery has restrictions?
We check your cemetery’s rules and regulations before we place any flowers or other items at the site. You will be informed of any limitations that interfere with your request.

Can you deliver a message for me?
Yes. When we visit a gravesite as part of a care plan or floral delivery, we can read a verbal message, a poem, or a gravesite prayer. We also deliver written messages. Your written message will be kept private, in a sealed envelope.

Can you plant flowers, bulbs, or shrubs?
We can provide any horticultural services or plantings that stay within the cemetery’s guidelines.

Since I can’t go to the cemetery, how will I know you performed the services I requested?
We provide you with a photograph taken at the site, either by email or text. We can also provide printed photos by mail for a small fee.

I’m not sure of the exact location of the burial site. Can you find it for me?
We will make every effort to locate your loved one’s grave with the information you have available. Most cemeteries maintain records that are very helpful. Providing us with the gravesite section and plot number is ideal. At a minimum, we need the name of the cemetery and the name on the headstone or marker. There may be an extra fee to locate non-specified grave locations.

I haven’t been able to visit the gravesite for a long time. I don’t know if the headstone/monument is in disrepair or in need of cleaning.
We will notify you if there are any condition problems. You will also be able to view the headstone or monument in the photograph we take at the site after maintenance visits and floral deliveries.

Will you help with my pet’s memorial?
Pets are a part of the family and are memorialized in many ways.  Contact us to see how we can customize a care plan for your beloved pet’s gravesite.

How do payments work?
Annual care plans may be paid in full at the outset or billed on a quarterly basis. Floral deliveries must be paid in full before the delivery is made. Fees for garden design, installation, and maintenance will be determined on an individual basis. Payments can be made by personal check, cash, or credit card.

Terms & Conditions

Guarantee of Service and Quality

All of our work is carried out in a dignified and respectful manner.
Floral tributes will be made up on the day of delivery to ensure freshness.
Following each visit, you will receive a digital photograph of the grave.
We cannot accept liability for any loss and/or damage occurring after we complete our work and leave the gravesite.

Substitution
If necessary, due to availability issues of flowers and/or plants, we reserve the right to substitute alternatives of high quality and of equal or higher value.

Payment Options
Following acceptance of your order, we will confirm the details and submit an invoice for payment which will form the basis and commencement of the agreement.

We accept personal checks, cash, and credit card payments. 

Pricing is based on a single plot size.

Complaints
Please contact us immediately and we will aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.

Regulations
Cemetery rules and regulations will be requested and adhered to.

Surcharges
An extra fee may be added to locate non-specified grave locations.

Travel charges will be added to cemeteries located more than 10 miles from Villanova, PA.

For a small fee, printed photos of gravesites can be mailed to clients.