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Is it possible to sprinkle weed salt on a grave?translated

September 28, 2026 · 1 min read

Reader question:

Good afternoon. For several years I have been using salt to control weeds on the graves of relatives, since there are many graves and there is no time for weeding. A relative was indignant, saying that pouring salt on graves was blasphemy. Please clarify: from an Orthodox point of view, is it allowed to sprinkle salt on graves? If not, why not?

Tatiana

Priest's answer:

EFANOV Andrey, archpriest

God bless you!

Dear Tatyana, in Orthodoxy there are no sacred substances outside of their dedication to God. You can use salt for food or to fight weeds. You can use incense (not the kind sold in church shops, but in regular stores) to flavor a room or prepare dishes (coffee with incense is very tasty).

Salt used to be quite expensive, and therefore, perhaps, using it to control weeds was perceived as an unwise waste. Due to the high cost of salt, its unreasonable consumption was perceived as waste. Apparently, this is the basis for the superstition that you encountered.

There is nothing terrible either for the soul of the deceased or for you personally in removing weeds from graves with the help of salt. Your relative is just...

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💬 Comments (2) 🌐 Translate comments

George Collins

I've been pulling weeds by hand at my grandparents' graves for years because salt just feels off to me, even after reading this. The priest's point about salt not being sacred unless it's blessed makes sense, but I still wonder if there's a simpler way like vinegar that wouldn't risk upsetting family. Anyone tried that on a grave without issues?

Luke Hall

I've used salt on the path behind my allotment for years and it does the job, but after reading the priest's answer I can see why your relative felt uneasy. The bit about salt once being expensive and people seeing it as waste makes sense – my nan used to say the same about wasting tea leaves. Vinegar works alright too, George, though it needs a second go if the weeds are thick.