Even a perfect memorial site can use a pop of color to individualize a loved one's grave and honor his or her memory.Cemetery vasesfilled with fresh flowers are beautiful and can add a touch of personality to your loved one’s headstone without much effort on your part. When you know how to installcemetery vases, you can set them up on your own and avoid paying someone else to do it. You also have the freedom to put your own personal touch on your loved one's memorial. In this guide, we explore choosing the rightcemetery vasesfor certain gravestones and give tips on how to installflower vases for headstones.
Choosing the Right Flower Vases for Headstones
Given this is a special circ*mstance, you'll need a special vase. To start, look for a vase durable enough to withstand the elements and weathering over time.
We recommend any of the following options:
- Bronze
- Granite
- Marble
Bronze cemetery vases may develop a patina over time due to oxidation, but this look only lends to the antiqued and timeless appearance of the memorial.
In comparison, granite and marble cemetery vases will still look like new after years of enduring various weather conditions. Some headstones already feature granite or marble vases built right into the design. Others come equipped with bases that provide space to add cemetery vases later on.
If possible, we advise you to refrain from using cast metalcemetery vases. Their material will not withstand time and changing weather and, as a result, you'll need to replace them every few years.
How to Install a Cemetery Vase on a Headstone
Follow these instructions to safely install yourcemetery vaseto the headstone of a loved one.
1. Clean the Surface of the Headstone
No matter what kind of headstone you clean, you must remember to be as gentle as possible. Whencleaning a headstone, you should never attempt to clean granite with ammonia, vinegar, or lemon-based liquids. Just use a little dishwashing detergent, water, and a couple of clean cloths to clean and dry the headstone. Bronze and marble memorials require water, non-ionic soap, and soft cloths for adequate cleaning.
2. Position theCemetery Vase
Once the surface area is dry, decide whether you want to attach thecemetery vaseto the headstone or base. Then, place the flower vase in the desired spot. Measure and mark the distance from side to side and front to back. This will help yourcemetery vaselook proportionate and level once the installation is complete. Mark the ideal position with tape.
3. Prepare the Adhesive
Before you can attach thecemetery vaseto the headstone, you must determine the correct epoxy or adhesive to use for the specific material of your headstone. If you're working with a granite headstone, keep in mind that granite loses its porousness after being polished. Luckily, granite epoxy is much more effective than mastic glue. After that, start mixing the epoxy with a putty knife until it features a uniform appearance in color.
4. Apply the Adhesive
Use your putty knife to apply some of the epoxy to the bottom of thecemetery vase. If you apply too much, the epoxy may leak out from the sides of the vase. Apply just enough epoxy to cover the base of the vase and scrape it toward the center so that it doesn’t leak excessively.
5. Install theCemetery Vase
Once you’ve thoroughly covered the base of the vase with epoxy or adhesive, turn it right side up and place it in the position you marked earlier with tape. Make sure to double-check where the drain hole is located. You'll want to install the vase so that the drain hole points outward to the side of the headstone. Using your body weight, press down firmly to ensure that the epoxy spreads evenly between the vase and the surface of the headstone.
6. Clean up the Headstone
After you've installed thecemetery vase, remove any excess adhesive or epoxy with a razor blade and a damp paper towel. Then, peel away any remaining tape. After you do that, make sure that the memorial base is level, so the vase can’t slide off and break. Secure thecemetery vasefor up to 24 hours with tape to allow the epoxy to harden completely.
How to Secure Flowers in a Cemetery Vase
Installing the cemetery vase is the first part of the decorating process. After that, you want to make sure the flowers stay in place. There are several ways to do this, but our experts recommend either of the following options:
Option 1
Using a ribbon or twine, tie the flowers together. Then, fasten them into thecemetery vaseusing wire picks for stability.
Option 2
Place foam at the bottom of yourcemetery vase. Make sure to leave enough room for the flowers to still fit inside. Then, add florist's tape to the top of the foam. As you place each flower in the vase, take the bottoms of the stems and stick them to the tape. The tape will help provide a secure hold.
Honor Your Deceased Loved One WithCemetery Vasesand Accessories from Legacy Headstones
When our loved ones pass, our special tributes keep their memory alive. Decorating their headstone with acemetery vasefilled with flowers is a beautiful way to do just that. To do the job right, you need the right equipment. Forheadstone vasesyou can count on, look no further than Legacy Headstones. We offer a wide variety ofmemorial itemsto help you pay tribute to deceased loved ones and honor the lives they led. If you have any questions about our selection or would like more information,contact ustoday.
