Planting a Memorial Tree for Your Pet
A living tribute that grows for decades—how to choose, plant, and care for it.
Three years after planting a dogwood tree for my golden retriever, it bloomed for the first time. I sat under it and cried—not from grief, but from gratitude. A tree is a memorial that grows.
Why plant a tree?
Trees grow and change with time like grief does. They provide shade, flowers, or fruit, attract birds, and can last for decades.
Choosing the right tree
**Small trees (under 25 ft):** Dogwood, redbud, Japanese maple
**Medium trees (25-50 ft):** Magnolia, flowering cherry, birch
**Large trees (50+ ft):** Oak, maple, pine
Ask a local nursery for recommendations suited to your area.
Planting with ashes
Mix ashes with soil (do not use pure ashes—too alkaline). Use about 1 cup mixed with backfill soil. Biodegradable urn trees (0-00) contain seeds with a compartment for ashes.