Grave care in Tbilisi - regular visits, photo reports and a yearly plan

Single-visit checklist: what gets done at the grave

• Tidying the plot: leaves, twigs, litter and old dried flowers are cleared away, including inside the railing and along the curb.
• Grass and weeds: we cut the grass and pull weeds out by the root from the joints between tiles and from the flower bed, so they do not come straight back.
• Washing the headstone: granite and marble are cleaned with a neutral, stone-safe product and a soft brush; the portrait and photo ceramic plaque are wiped with great care.
• Washing tiles and the bench: we remove dust and dirt, scrub off candle wax and check the joints.
• Flowers: we place fresh or artificial flowers, whichever the family prefers, and water any potted plants.
• Photo report: pictures taken before we start and after we finish arrive on WhatsApp the same day.

Prices

These prices apply to cemeteries in Tbilisi. For a large family plot or a grave out in the regions we agree the price separately. You can pay by card, by international transfer or in instalments, and a yearly plan can be settled in a single payment at the start of the year.

Looking after a grave for families living abroad

A large share of our clients are families who have emigrated - to Italy, Greece, Germany or America. What weighs on them most is not being able to visit a parent's grave for years and not knowing what state it is in. The yearly plan was designed with exactly these families in mind. On every visit the team photographs the grave from the same spot, so relatives can follow how it changes over time. If anything is damaged, for example a tile has lifted or the photo plaque has come loose, we let the family know within hours and quote a price for the repair. On memorial days, if the family asks, we light a candle, lay flowers and send a photo or a short video of that moment.

When a grave needs attention

• In spring: after the winter the grave is covered in leaves and debris, and the grass grows faster than at any other time. This is the most important clean of the year.
• Before the day of remembrance of the dead: after Easter, when families flock to the cemeteries, a well-kept grave matters more than ever.
• In summer: in the heat, flowers need regular watering or they dry out within a few days.
• Before the anniversary and the birthday: many families spend these days at the cemetery, and it is a comfort to find everything already in order.
• In autumn: once the leaves have fallen we prepare the grave for winter, so that standing water and wet leaves do not damage the tiles and stone.

Protecting the headstone

The biggest risk in grave care is the cleaning itself, if it is done badly. In cemeteries you often see granite headstones that someone "cleaned" with acid, leaving them dull and without their polish, or marble that has turned yellow from bleach. Our team uses only neutral products on stone, never touches it with a wire brush, and is especially careful with the lower part of the headstone and the joints, because that is where the stone is weakest. We also check the paint in gilded lettering and, if it has worn away, renew it with the family's agreement.

Restoring a neglected grave

Families often come to us about an old grave that has gone untended for years - a grandmother's or grandfather's, say, which nobody has visited since the family moved to another city. A grave like that is frequently overgrown with bushes, grass and rubbish, the headstone is covered in moss and the railing in rust. A deep clean takes a full day: we cut back the bushes, dig out the roots, wash the stone, straighten anything that has started to lean, and then give the family an honest assessment of what else the grave needs, such as painting the railing or laying new tiles.

Tools we bring, and what we never use

The team carries its own water tank, because at many cemeteries the tap is a long walk away or runs dry in summer. We also bring a neutral, stone-safe cleaning product, soft brushes and sponges, a strimmer, secateurs and a spade, and rubbish bags so that everything is carried out of the cemetery and nothing ends up on the neighbouring plot. What we never use: acidic cleaners, bleach, wire brushes, pressure washers on old or damaged stone, and weedkiller near the flower bed, because it also kills the plants the family has put in.

A care calendar for the Tbilisi climate

In Tbilisi the rhythm of grave care follows the seasons. In March and April the grass grows fastest and there is the most winter debris to clear. From May to September the main concerns are heat and watering, and fresh flowers need attention every week. In October and November falling leaves can bury a grave within days, and in winter families visit less often, so the priority is making sure water and ice do not sit on the tiles. We spread the visits of the yearly plan according to exactly this calendar.

The day of remembrance of the dead

After Easter, on the day of remembrance of the dead (known in Georgia as Easter of the dead, or Mitsvalebulta Aghdgoma), the cemeteries of Tbilisi receive thousands of families, and cleaning a grave on the day itself is almost impossible: the roads are jammed and there are queues at every tap. That is why many families book a visit for a few days beforehand. The team tidies the grave, washes the headstone and lays flowers in advance, and on the day of remembrance the family arrives at a grave that is already cared for, bringing a candle and red-dyed eggs, as tradition requires.

Caring for a large family plot

A family plot with several graves, headstones, a railing and a bench involves a great deal more work, and one visit often needs two people and half a day. For a plot like this we draw up an individual plan in which the care of each element appears as a separate line, and in the photo report every grave is photographed on its own.

Care before the headstone is installed

In the first year, before there is a permanent headstone, a grave needs particular attention. The mound settles and loses its shape, the temporary wooden cross may start to lean, and wreaths and ribbons are spoiled by wind and rain. During this period the team tops up and reshapes the mound, straightens and secures the cross, clears away old wreaths with the family's consent and carefully hands the ribbons to relatives, since many people want to keep them as a memento.

Frequently asked questions