More green instead of gravel in the cemeteries

This emerges from a city council resolution of April 11, as Mayor Michael Ritsch reported after the meeting.

The problem is well known. The city’s cemeteries consist largely of gravel surfaces. Because weeds are not controlled with herbicides for reasons of nature conservation, the latter sprout in abundance there every year. The purely mechanical removal is too time-consuming. For this reason, the city garden center has developed a greening concept and in the two previous years as part of a pilot project created two reference fields in the cemeteries of Mariahilf and St. Gallus. The tests there with an easy-care, walkable lawn made from a seed mixture were successful, so that the project can now be rolled out over a larger area. The city also wants to use the design measures to remove the floor slabs that surround some resting places. Earth movements caused by repeated opening and closing of graves repeatedly lead to “stumbling blocks” with a risk of injury.

“The success of the pilot project has prompted us to continue the greening this year and in the years to come. Lawns allow the water to evaporate more slowly, cool the surroundings better and therefore contribute significantly better to a pleasant climate. After sowing, however, they need many weeks until they have reached their flat, carpet-like final shape, and may also have to be reworked here and there. I therefore ask all visitors to the cemetery to be patient,” said Mayor Michael Ritsch. City councilor Florian Rainer, who is responsible for properties and cemeteries, said: “For environmental reasons, the ‘chemical club’ against weeds is a no-go. In addition, the large gravel deserts are hot areas, especially in summer. From my point of view, greening is the only right way to improve the attractiveness and quality of life in our cemeteries. Of course, this takes a while, which is why it also requires the cooperation of the citizens