How to Plant a Tree to Honor a Deceased Pet

Plant a memorial tree.

Losing a pet can be devastating. Everyone deals with grief differently, and some are more affected than others after the loss of a pet--for some people, it's more than just losing their dog or cat, it's losing a best friend. It's typically recommended to hold some sort of service or take part in another activity to honor the pet, which can help with closure for all. One of the best ways to honor a lost loved one is to plant a tree in their honor. Planting a tree in honor of your lost pet can not only be a healing experience, but it's great for the environment and provides you with a special place to visit.

Things You'll Need

• Tree
• Shovel
• Mulch
• Plaque

Instructions

1. Create, or have created, a plaque or stepping stone of some kind with your pet's name on it for your memorial tree.

2. See if you need permission to plant your tree in the desired location and get it if you do. Whether you are planting this tree on your own property or some place else, you will need to make sure you do not violate any laws. Make sure this is a location you can visit often, as you will need to water your tree periodically for the first year or so, depending on rainfall patterns in the area. Once you are sure you have a legal location to plant your tree, locate a nice place to plant it, with full or partial sun depending on the type of tree.

3. Select a tree. If you are planting it in a park or similar area, make sure to get a tree that follows the area's guidelines. Choose a species that will do well in your area. After purchasing or receiving your tree, choose a nice day and head out to the location for planting.

4. Dig your hole. This can be started before participants arrive; alternatively, wait for them to arrive and assist in the process. The size of the hole depends on the size of the root ball, the mass of roots and soil produced when the tree is removed from its container. Often when you buy a tree the root ball will be wrapped up, most likely in burlap. Dig your hole approximately as deep as this ball and twice as wide.

5. Place the root ball in the hole after removing it from its container. Make sure to loosen the roots if they have coiled all together, taking care not to break any. If the root ball is wrapped in burlap, simply place it in the hole and untie the burlap, leaving it to decompose.

6. Fill the hole in with soil, stomping and patting the soil down to get air pockets out. Create a circular dam about two feet from the trunk using the leftover soil. This will help hold the water when you water your tree during the first year. Maintain a 2 to 4 inch deep mulch layer inside the dam, making sure the mulch ring starts about six inches away from the trunk of the tree and is not piled directly on it.

7. Soak ground around the tree thoroughly for its first watering. Now is the time to place your plaque. Place the plaque on the ground near your tree, and if you like everyone can say something about your lost pet.

8. Dedicate the tree following a procedure of your choosing, such as placing the plaque on the ground near your tree and saying a few words or inviting participants to say a few words about the lost pet.

9. Visit your tree weekly for at least the first few months. Maintain the mulch ring and sprinkle around the tree with 2 or 3 gallons of water (watering is not necessary those weeks when nature does the job). Water 2 to 3 gallons weekly at first depending on the species of tree. After a while you can count on your tree to survive on its own in most environments, but be sure to check in on it occasionally for the first year.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have an appropriate location or the means to plant a tree yourself but would still like one planted in your pet's honor, there are many services available will have a tree planted for you in a local, state, or national park, or in a similar location. These services will send you a dedication certificate, and in some cases part of the fee may be donated to charity.

References

• Kids F.A.C.E: How to Plant a Tree

Resources

• Arborday.org: Trees for Pets