Amid ongoing periods of intense heat, the German Federation of Gardeners (Bundes Deutscher Friedhofsgärtner, BdF) is demanding that grave maintenance be exempt from blanket municipal watering bans. Michael Ballenberger, Chairman of the Federation within the Central Association of Horticulture, told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that grave irrigation in cemeteries must be excluded from nationwide water restrictions. He emphasized that graves need to continue being maintained and adequately watered, even during heat waves.
According to Ballenberger, prolonged periods of heat and drought have significantly stressed many plantings on graves, though he noted that the persistent dryness, rather than the heat itself, is the primary issue. Nonetheless, he cautioned that widespread or permanent damage to graves cannot currently be ruled out.
Currently, there are no uniform federal regulations on this matter, as various municipalities and districts have implemented temporary limitations or outright bans on watering gardens and green spaces due to the ongoing drought.
In addition to making this appeal, the association chief offered advice to relatives with grave plots. He recommends watering primarily in the early mornings or late evenings. Furthermore, he suggested that it is more effective to water less frequently but deeply, ensuring the water reaches the root system. He advises approximately 40 liters of water for an individual grave site.
