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With The Living Urn®, Life Continues...
Enter your zip code here for the best tree options for your area
Step 1. Select your urn or keepsake...
Click Here to Learn Why The Living Urn is America's Leading Bio Urn!
Enter your zip code here for the best tree options for your area
Click Here for Answers to Common Questions About The Living Urn
Enter your zip code here for the best tree options for your area
Planting a Tree Burial Pod
Select Your Bio Urn and Tree
With The Living Urn, you can choose to order the BioUrn® System either with a tree of your selection or with a tree voucher to decide later. Our award-winning nursery offers more than seventy tree options tailored to your zip code, ensuring you find the perfect tree that thrives in your region.
Choose a Location
Many families opt to plant their loved one’s memorial tree in their garden, backyard, or other private property. Others may prefer to plant in a local park, golf course, or similar location, which often requires city or property owner permission. Another popular option is a Memory Forest™, a dedicated space for honoring loved ones with trees rather than traditional tombstones. Many Memory Forest™ sites even offer planting services to assist you.
Transfer the Ashes
When the time feels right, you can transfer the ashes into the BioUrn®. The Living Urn® BioUrn® and Planting System is designed to last indefinitely until it is planted, at which point it begins to biodegrade naturally. Simply remove the bamboo case, place the ashes inside the urn, and secure the lid. You can return the urn to its bamboo case until you’re ready for planting.
Add Additives
When you’re ready to plant the tree, aim to do so within a week of receiving it. Take the BioUrn® out of the bamboo case at the chosen burial site and pour the proprietary RootProtect® additive over the cremated remains to support tree growth.
Prepare the Spot
Select a site that meets the light, space, and soil conditions your tree requires to thrive. Clear away any brush or weeds within a three-foot radius around the planting site. Dig a hole at least 12-18 inches deep to accommodate the urn and tree.
Placing the Tree Urn
Gently lower the BioUrn® into the hole so its top sits below ground level. Fill in the space around the urn with the soil you dug out. Your Living Urn Planting System includes detailed instructions if additional guidance is needed.
Plant Your Tree
Lower the roots of your young tree into the BioUrn®, ensuring the tree is level and oriented as desired. This step is crucial to establishing the tree in its new environment.
Water Your Tree
After planting, water the tree to ensure the surrounding soil is moist. Avoid overwatering, as excess moisture can prevent proper root oxygen flow. Proper watering helps the tree establish itself and grow.
Add Mulch for a Final Touch
As a final step, spread a layer of mulch around the tree. The Living Urn Planting System includes a starter pack of mulch, which insulates the soil, retains moisture, and protects against temperature extremes. Apply 2-4 inches of mulch, covering the three-foot radius around the planting spot. Additional mulch can be purchased as needed.
Why Plant a Tree Urn?
Honoring Their Life
You may want to plant a tree urn to honor someone’s life in a unique and special way. Planting your loved one as a tree can make a special place for you to visit and reminisce about the significance of your loved one’s life.
Good For The Environment
Planting trees can help slow global warming and make the world look a little bit greener. Your loved one can be part of the natural beauty of the world for years to come.
Tree Pod Burial: Learn More About Tree Urns for Cremation
What is a Tree Urn (Bio Urn)?
A tree urn, or bio urn, is a biodegradable container designed to grow a tree from cremated remains. The Living Urn® is a patented system that allows you to transform the ashes of a loved one into a living tree memorial, providing a beautiful way to honor their memory while giving back to nature. Many families plant the memorial on private property; others may use spaces like a Memory Forest.
How Do You Plant a Tree With Cremated Ashes?
Using The Living Urn®, the process begins by transferring the ashes into the BioUrn®. Add the RootProtect® additive on top of the ashes and place the urn in a prepared hole. Lower the young tree into the urn, then fill the surrounding space with soil. Press down to stabilize the tree, and apply mulch and water regularly to support healthy growth.
Are The Tree Burial Pods Biodegradable?
Yes, the Living Urn® BioUrn® is made entirely from 100% biodegradable, natural materials. Even the packaging is crafted from sustainable bamboo, making it an eco-friendly choice.
Are Tree Urns Environmentally Friendly
Absolutely! The Living Urn® is designed with sustainability in mind. Its materials, including bamboo packaging, are biodegradable and all-natural, ensuring a minimal environmental footprint.
How To Choose the Right Kind of Tree For Your Loved One?
The Living Urn® includes a live tree (2 to 4 feet tall) with a robust root system, making it easier for families to grow a healthy memorial. With over 40 types of trees and shrubs, options are tailored by zip code to ensure compatibility with your region. Popular tree choices include:
Red Maple Tree Urn: Hardy and widely adaptable across the U.S.
Red Oak Tree Urn: Symbolizes strength and longevity.
White Oak Tree Urn: Features vibrant fall colors and wildlife-friendly acorns.
Pink Dogwood Tree Urn: Stunning pink blooms in spring.
White Dogwood Tree Urn: Year-round beauty with spring blooms and vibrant fall foliage.
Weeping Willow Tree Urn: A peaceful choice for a dramatic landscape.
Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree Urn: Springtime beauty with vibrant blossoms.
Japanese Red Maple Tree Urn: Compact and vibrant fall color.
Sugar Maple Tree Urn: Beloved for its brilliant fall hues.
Crape Myrtle Tree Urn: A hardy, flowering option for warmer climates.
Sweetbay Magnolia Tree Urn: Unique creamy white blooms with a lemony fragrance.
Sycamore Tree Urn: Dense foliage and long-lived.
Tulip Tree Urn: Resistant to disease and a favorite among wildlife.
Ginkgo Biloba Tree Urn: Distinct fan-shaped leaves and incredible longevity.
American Elm Tree Urn: A bold, native shade tree.
How Becoming a Tree After Death is Symbolic
Tree memorials have deep historical roots, appearing in cultures worldwide as symbols of life, growth, and renewal. They honor the deceased by creating a new life that continues to grow, carrying on their legacy. Many tree species also have unique symbolic meanings, and the concept of the Tree of Life appears in various religious texts, emphasizing the profound connection between trees and spirituality.
How much does it cost to turn ashes into a tree?
The cost of turning ashes into a tree includes cremation expenses (which vary by location and services chosen) and purchasing The Living Urn®, which ranges from $129 to $159, depending on the selected tree or planting system.
Can I plant a tree memorial indoors?
Yes, The Living Urn® offers indoor options, including bonsai trees and houseplants. Explore our indoor memorial choices.
If I plant a tree urn, can I still scatter some of the ashes?
Yes! It’s common for families to divide ashes, using some for The Living Urn® while scattering or keeping others in keepsakes like jewelry.
Can I still hold a funeral if I plant a tree pod?
Yes, many families host a funeral or celebration of life before or after cremation. The bamboo casing of The Living Urn® can serve as an attractive display at the service. Families often pair this with cremation jewelry or other keepsakes for lasting mementos.
For more information, visit the Living Urn FAQ page.
Enter zip code here for best tree options for your area
Not all trees will grow well in your area – we want to be sure you get a tree that is right for you!
Unlike Evergreens, which we ship year-round, Seasonal trees are shipped in early Spring and again in the Fall and are sent according to your local climate and this year's weather. This is done to be sure your tree is planted at the optimal time. Also, to be sure that your seedling arrives in a strong and healthy condition, we need to ship Seasonals when they are dormant in the Spring and Fall. Send us an email to info@thelivingurn.com or call us at (800) 495-7022 with questions or for more information regarding the delivery date of your tree.