Lithuanian municipalities improve cemetery maintenance with free tools and compost

Local governments in Lithuania are introducing free gardening tools, watering cans, and compost to help residents maintain family graves, LRT reports.

In Alytus, four cemeteries now provide 60 watering cans and tool stands stocked with essential equipment like rakes and trowels. The city also distributes free compost, processed from local waste, to visitors until June 1. “We take the same compost that residents bring in, process it, and deliver it here. People can take as much as they need for their plots,” said Alytus Mayor Nerijus Cesiulis.

In Lazdijai district, three rural cemeteries—Krosna, Būdviečiai, and Šventežeris—have installed water taps, eliminating the need for visitors to carry water from nearby lakes. “It’s much better now that water is available. I remember when we used to carry it from Lake Baltabalė,” recalled local resident Anelė. Šventežeris elder Lijana Kubilienė noted that the provided tools remain in place, as residents use them responsibly.

Municipalities emphasize that while grave upkeep is the responsibility of families, maintaining cemetery infrastructure—such as paths, fences, and water systems—falls to local governments. Alytus district, overseeing 95 active cemeteries, has invested nearly €480,000 over 25 years in such improvements. “We clear snow, trim trees, and remove hazardous branches that could damage headstones,” Cesiulis added.