• When you cut down brush and trees, note that many of these plants will simply grow back if you don't paint the stump with vegetation killer.
• Don't cut down all the trees. Many weeds grow best in the sun, so try to trim tree trunks to allow the canopy to fill in and provide shade. You may then plant a shade-loving variety of grass if you plan to regularly mow the cemetery.
• Old cemeteries surrounded by fields might be larger than you think. Farmers do naturally try to use every square inch of their land for crops, so don't be surprised if old graves have actually been plowed under. Sometimes whole cemeteries are plowed under, with headstones just buried in a big pit or used for foundation stones. This is even accepted in some cultures, but German Methodist Cemetery has benefited from many years of conscientious owners.
• Use an electric fence post, rebar, or some other metal rod to probe for buried grave markers or their bases. Markers can get buried over many years due to the annual freeze/thaw cycle and soft ground. You can generally tell the difference between a stone and a tree root when probing. Be careful not to jam it in so hard that you shatter the marker. One can even use fancy electronic detection equipment if one is lucky enough to have the funds and the access. Then use a shovel and carefully excavate the artifact. Even if it turns out to be a simple rock, dig around the artifact to loosen it until you know.
• Always take careful notes about exactly where you find markers or where you dig them up, including noting the orientation both above and below ground. Take photographs if needed. Try to leave headstones where you find them, even if you know they are in the wrong place. Be careful only to move them if you are 100% sure of where they should be, but sleep on it anyway until you are 110% sure. Too many cemetery caretakers have rearranged markers to best allow for mowing or other maintenance, but even well-intentioned workers have made mistakes.
• Cemetery research is a puzzle, and sometimes a very difficult puzzle. Use all resources at your disposal...an old cemetery inventory, federal and state census records, church records, county vital records, county land records, stories from the neighbors, etc.
• Never use a coarse brush, especially never a wire brush, to clean a marker. Most markers in old cemeteries are very fragile. Rough brushing will destroy more than it will help. Use a very soft-bristled brush, even a soft toothbrush for detail work.
• Never use harsh detergents that will damage the stone. Even less harsh ones might leave behind elements that will be absorbed and adversely affect the stone. Never use bleach to kill moss or whiten a marker. Just plain water is always a good thing. If you do use a mild detergent of some kind, be sure to thoroughly rinse with clean water.
• Porous stone markers will absorb water with dissolved salts. These salts cause cracking and surface flaking. It is important to set markers on end to reduce the surface area subjected to absorption, even if you are unable to set them permanently in concrete. In our case, we used treated wooden stakes where we could to hold them upright. Permanent anchoring of these headstones is a future project, though one should be careful not to bury the inscription from view. Some people lie markers flat and set them in concrete. This is a mistake for obvious reasons. Always set them upright.
• Only special adhesives should be used to repair markers that are broken into pieces. The markers should be taken indoors and laid flat for this procedure. A warm, controlled enviroment will allow for proper drying of the adhesive. Check with an expert when choosing a product.

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