Best Material For Outdoor Ornaments & Garden Memorials for Cremated Ashes

Stone

Stone is a natural material and so it is a perfect material to use outdoors within a garden. It requires little upkeep and over time the urn will age, so it will gradually blend into its surroundings and be at one within your garden.

Marble - a beautiful natural stone that is robust and a popular choice for memorials and urns. Marble will last a very long time, as with all natural stones and will require little maintenance. Natural ageing will occur over time, but this is reduced by the finish used on most of our products. As with all-natural stone, no 2 pieces will be exactly the same due to the sourcing of the material.

Slate - one of the hardest wearing stones that are used, slate gives a classy finish but can be expensive. Slate will last longer than almost any other natural stone and can either be kept looking clean by simply rubbing it down when it looks kemp or it can be left to age and mature within its surroundings.

Granite - much like marble, but tougher, it comes in some beautiful colours and can be left alone for long periods of time with minimal fuss. Be warned, granite can be an expensive choice.

Metals

Metals have long been the choice for memorials and garden ornaments due to their versatility and strength. Metals can be worked into a large number of designs and incorporate a good amount of detail. They also require low maintenance and some metals appearances actually become more appealing with age.

Copper - copper is a beautiful metal that is suitable for use outdoors, Copper will naturally form a layer of patina (the greenish colouring from the weather) over the course of time that will both enhance the look of the item and form a protective barrier. If you do not like the ageing look, you can protect against this by cleaning the item and treating with beeswax.

Bronze - bronze is one of the most robust metals to use for garden urns due to the blending of 2 metals. Similar to copper it forms a natural protective layer of patina that can enhance the appearance, this is usually a greenish colour. You can maintain the shiny finish by cleaning and purchasing common wax suitable for bronze items.

Brass - a number of our standard urns are made of Brass and for good reason. Brass is a very strong material that doesn't require much maintenance . The natural protective layer it creates means it becomes pretty much immune to weathering. We would recommend against using some of the more patterned or detailed urns made of brass as they will not keep the design because of the naturally occurring ‘rust’

Stainless steel - another great metal for outdoor use because of its strength and cost. Stainless steel will keep its appearance better than the other metals listed and it's also generally the strongest.

Lead - lead is another strong metal that is highly resistant to being kept outdoors. The natural rust that forms is generally pale to dark green and unless you want to maintain the original colour, no further upkeep is necessary.

Aluminium - another self-preserving metal, aluminium is light and will last a long tie with minim upkeep needed. The finish will sit discreetly in your garden too making it a great material for an outdoor garden memorial. The oxidation tends to be a lighter, grey-white colour.

Other Materials

Wood - we wouldn't recommend storing any wooden urn outside to be exposed to the element due to the changes that this can present in the structure.

Fibreglass - a more recent material that is becoming more common is Fibreglass. Its a tough plastic-like material that allows for more detailed designs to be created and also more colour to be injected into pieces. Fibreglass urns tend to be more colourful and can appeal to a more modern taste.

Options for Ashes in the Garden

There are a number of options available to you in regards to the ashes. If you need some inspiration then read our guide for some popular ideas for ashes in your garden

• Garden ornament - as mentioned above, you can purchase one of our urns that are suitable for outdoor use and keep it safe within your garden
• Burying ashes in the garden - if you wish, we sell a range of biodegradable urns that can be used to bury the ashes
• Scattering ashes - we sell scatter tubes that will enable you to scatter the ashes in your garden or at a place of significant meaning - please read our guide to scattering ashes
• Keepsake - A large number of families choose to keep just a token amount of ashes, that way you can have a scattering ceremony and also keep withhold a keepsake amount of ashes as a treasured memory.