Are Pet Ashes Good for Plants and Potential Fertilizers?
When a pet dies, many pet owners find solace in the idea of scattering their pet’s ashes in their gardens, creating a connection between them and the natural world. However, are pet ashes good for plants? Can pet ashes truly serve as fertilizers to cultivate a thriving garden?
There are several truths and myths regarding how good pet ashes can be for plants. It’s crucial to explore the composition of these ashes before deciding on the final resting place.
Let’s take a look at what’s the composition of pet’s ashes, how they affect plants, and if the effects are positive, neutral, or negative.
Understanding Pet Ashes Composition
When we talk about the ashes from pet cremation (either resulting from flame cremation or aquamation), also known as cremains, it’s essential to recognize their composition.
The primary constituents of cremated remains include calcium, phosphorus, and sodium, among various other natural agricultural nutrients.
Nevertheless, pet ashes have an exceedingly high pH. Due to it, these nutrients are encapsulated within the bone fragments and remain unavailable to plant life.
So, contrary to a common belief, pet’s ashes do not act as a natural fertilizer in their unaltered form.
In fact, the truth is quite the opposite. Much like human cremains, pet ashes are not good for plants. They contain elements that impact plants, specifically the pH levels and sodium content.
How Pet Ashes can Affect Your Garden and Plants
One significant factor to consider is the alkaline and sodium content within the cremation ashes. These elements, while not harmful in small quantities, can have adverse effects on plant life when concentrated.
The high pH levels in the ashes can disrupt the natural balance of the soil, making it less conducive to plant growth.
The high pH in pet ashes is typically bad for plants because it creates an alkaline environment. Most plants prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH for optimal growth and nutrient absorption. When the pH is too high (alkaline), it can lead to several issues. For example, it can limit the availability of nutrients and affect the plant’s metabolism.
Additionally, the excess sodium can inhibit the absorption of essential nutrients, creating an environment that is not ideal for the thriving of plants. Actually, the sodium in cremains is 200 to 2000 times what plant life can tolerate.
In essence, the untouched cremains, though rich in sentimental value, may inadvertently hinder the growth and health of the very greenery you hope to nurture in your pet’s memory.
Do Pet Ashes Always Harm Plants or Does it Depend?
As we saw before, the mineral composition of pet’s ashes are generally harmful or plants.
However, if you scatter your ashes in spread out and in small quantities, you will probably not notice any significant effects in the plants.
Also, scattering them around established trees or shrubs shouldn’t cause any visible adverse results.
For example, scattering a small pet’s ashes, such as dog’s or cat’s, on your lawn might not cause visible effects if they’re spread enough and if they are not scattered on seedlings. Having your pet’s remains in your garden can be one of the nicest ways of seeing the cycle of life continue.
As a general rule, you can safely spread this amount of ashes in your garden: approximately 9kg (20 pounds) of ash per approximately 93 square meters (1000 square feet) of garden.
On the contrary, scattering dog’s ashes on a flower pot or a small indoor plant container will likely make the plant wither or die. This can be one of the saddest things to see, how death brings more death. Avoid it. Don’t scatter untreated ashes on any pot.
Even if scattered with care, some plants and flowers will be less resistant to the chemical components of pet’s ashes. Let’s take a look at what plants are more resistant to them.
Plants that Can Be More Sensitive to Pet’s Ashes
Remember that pet ashes have a high pH (they are alkaline), so they can affect certain plants that are more sensitive to alkaline environments than others.
If you have the following plants in your garden, try not to scatter the ashes around them to avoid hurting them.
Common Garden Plants to Approach with Caution
- Azaleas:
- Azaleas prefer acidic soils, and the alkaline nature of pet’s ashes might not be ideal for their growth.
- Rhododendrons:
- Similar to azaleas, rhododendrons thrive in acidic soil conditions and may not tolerate the alkalinity of cremains.
- Hydrangeas:
- Hydrangeas’ flower color is influenced by soil pH, and the alkaline content of pet’s ashes may impact their color-changing ability.
- Camellias:
- Camellias generally prefer slightly acidic soils, and the alkaline nature of cremains may not be conducive to their growth.
- Ferns:
- Some fern species may prefer more acidic conditions, so it’s advisable to research the specific type of fern in your garden.
Neutralizing Pet Cremation Ashes
As mentioned before, if you spread the ashes over a space that is not very small and you don’t scatter them on very young plants, you don’t really need to take any extra precautions.
But there are cases in which you want to make sure the ashes will not harm the plants. For example, if you don’t have a garden, and want to spread them in an indoor flower pot. Or if you want to plant a memorial tree as a tribute for your pet, using the ashes as the base.
In these cases, you can opt for neutralizing your pet’s ashes.
There are several ways to do so. The drawback, is that unfortunately, they take time.
Organic Matter Products
Specialized products are available that convert cremated remains into organic matter beneficial for plants. These products actively tackle both high pH and salt levels, providing a more efficient solution.
The process is relatively straightforward. Once you have the soil cremation mixture, carefully combine it with your pet’s ashes.
You wil need to let this mixture sit for at least for 3 or 4 months before introducing it to your garden. During this time, the product’s bacteria interact with the ashes, creating a plant-friendly medium ready for scattering or growing.
Once your mixture is ready, you can spread it on your flower pots or you can prepare a soil mixture with it to plant a seedling.
Natural Methods to Increase Soil Acidity
While the previous method is applied on the ashes, there are also ways to treat the soil itself so that it becomes more resistant to the harmful effect of the ashes.
For example, powdered elemental sulfur, can be used to increase soil acidity. This method may require multiple treatments and several months to see noticeable results.
But while it addresses pH concerns, it may not fully handle high salt content.
Natural Methods to Reduce Salt Levels
To reduce salt levels in the soil, consider adding activated charcoal and compost. Regular watering helps move the salt deeper into the soil, away from the root zone.
If you want to plant a memorial tree using a mixing the ashes in the soil as a base, the goal is for the salt to gradually descend below where the roots will be. This process requires time and consistent effort.
An Alternative: Biodegradable Urn Kits
If you want to plant a memorial tree as a tribute for your pet, you can also opt for a biodegradable urn.
These kits typically include a specially designed urn and a soil additive to balance the pH of the ashes. And, depending on the company, a tree sapling or tree seeds of your choice.
The urn itself is crafted from biodegradable materials, ensuring it will naturally break down over time when placed in the ground.
This means that your pet’s ashes can be safely stored within the urn for an extended period, allowing you the flexibility to choose the right time and place for the scattering ceremony. They only start decomposing after getting in touch with the soil.
When you’re ready to proceed, the kit’s soil additive can be placed atop the ashes before burial.
BEfore You Go…
While the intention is to create a serene and beautiful resting place for your pet, scattering unaltered pet cremains in a small space is not a good idea.
If you don’t have a garden, you can choose to buy a product that will neutralize the pH of the ashes. However, as we saw, the process takes a long time. If you are looking to scatter your pet’s ashes soon, take a look at these creative ways of scattering the ashes for some other ideas.
