CA2194035A1 - Plant multi-section packs - Google Patents

Abstract

New multi-section packs with viable plants are described. The multi-section packs have very low synthetic resin consumption and low waste. Multi-section packs having degradable reinforcements are disclosed. Multi-section packs of grasses and ornamental plants are disclosed. The method of manufacture is disclosed. Multi-section packs are versatile and particularly effective for garden plants.

Description

21 94~3S

PLANT MULTI-SECTION PACKS

This invention relates to new and useful multi-section packs, their method of m~m)fac*lre, and their method of use. The new plant multi-section packs are propag~t~ quicldy. They are very versatile in use. The plant multi-section packsare particularly crr~tive for garden plants.
.. Bacl~groulld Plant multi-cell packs are known in the art. Single plant plugs of groundcovers and flowers are cQmmonly used in the nursery and l~nrlsc~re industry.
Plant plugs have been sold in the industry in well known growi.lg trays, plug o flats, cavity see~ling trays, and flats with com-pack and multi-cell pack inserts. These have served the industry well over many years. Typical m~nnf~ l- ~e ~ of these trays are Kord, TFI, TOP Plastics, and Sutton. Represe,l~live horticultural supply houses which carry these products are Hu.. .~-~ l Intern~tion~l in St. Louis, MI; E.C. Geiger, Inc. in Harleysville, PA; and K.C. Schaefer Co., Inc. in York, PA. O~ l sod 15 mats are also known. O~ l sod mats are reinforced with nonwoven fabrics or netting. Some l~pr~en~ re ey~mrl~s follow. Molnar (US 5,346,514) disclos~s flower and ~lowldco~,cr sod mats re;l,rorc~d with nylon noll~o~e~ n,illfolce~ c ~ Mil~tçin (US 4,941,282) tli~closes wildflower sod mats reihlfolced with polyester fabrics. Decker (US 4,336,668) discloses a novel method of growing groundcover 20 sods relllrolccd with synthetic netting. Airhart in Hor~SriP-nre 18(1), 89-91, 1983 dicrlQs~s gloundcover and flower sods remforced with s~ tic nctting The current growing tray inserts such as com-packs, multi-cell pack inserts, plug flats, and cavity se~Aling trays are well accepled in the indu~ . They do, hu.._~cr, suffer from some limit~tionc Plants grown in small pots or small cells of 2 multi-cell packs can become pot bound l- ~ni-~g that the roots grow arQund andaround in a circular fashion influenre~ by cell walls. If plante~ as they come out of the small cell, the plants can suffer from the "flower pot effect~, which means that the roots con~ - e to grow in a circular pattern, they beco.~ e root bound and the plant becollles stunted or dies. (Often times the plant can be pulled out of the soil months _- 30 after transplanting and the roots remain ~ib~ t;~lly in the shape of the pot.) To avoid this "flower pot effect", after removing the plant from the cell and before tr~n~lqnting, the roots are normally torn and spread apart. This tearing and spreading of the roots adds .cignifie~nt time, effort, skill, and cost to a l?ndsc~ring job. High q~ntiti~S of synthetic resin are used to ...~n..r~,,.e these trays.
~5 Typically, the shipping weight of these tray inserts weigh from about 15 to 30 lbs per hundred trays. When used in the field to supply plant plugs or se~ling~ for 2194~35 landscaping, this adds substantial weight which must he transported to the field for planting. In addition, once the plugs are planted, the tray, flats, and / or inserts must be collected. Once collected they must be either cleaned and recycled or discarded in a landfill. Not only are large numbers of these inserts heavy, they are also very 5 bulky. This adds significant additional labor and costs to the l~ndsc~pe job for cleanup. Further, it is common l~n(lcc~re industry practice to plug individual plants.
Thus if a plant dies, this leaves a bare spot which must be replanted adding further labor cost and time to a l:ln~ccape job.
Reinforced plant sod mats are very effective for l~n-(lsc~ping. They can be ,0 used to cover an entire area or the sod mat can be cut with a knife or torn by hand to make smaller pieces of sod which are spaced apart in the l~n~s~:~ping application.
This reduces plant sod mat costs in the l~ndsc~ping job. This method of using sod mats suffers from some important drawbacks. First, the cutting tool dulls quickly after repeated cutting of the sod mat due to the abrasive planting m~lillmc. As the 15 cutting tool dulls, the sod mat ~eillrolce,ne"l becomes more ~lifficult to cut. A dull cutting tool such as a knife often tears the sod mat and / or sod reinfolcelllent into unsightly and / or non-u,~iro"~l pieces. This can make the l~n~lcc~ping job appear less tidy and professional and thus reduces the perceived value of the l~n(1cc~re job. In addition, having and using cutting tools places an additional burden on the l~n~lsc~rer 20 and, thus further increases the cost of the l~ntlsc~pe job. Some reinforced sod mats are so strong that they are difficult or impossible to tear by hand. Often if the reinforced sod mats are torn by hand, non-uniform pieces result. This also makes the l~n(lcc~ping job appear less tidy and p-oÇessional. Still further more, some customers are hecit~nt to tear a sod mat for fear of tearing the wrong size sod mat off and 25 winding up with an inappropliate number of plants in each section.
In view of the above background, there still exists a need to reduce or elimin~te the "flower pot effect" for plants grown in small pots or cells. There still exists a need to reduce or elimin~te the tearing and spreading of the roots generally required for plants grown in small pots or cells which adds significant time, effort, 30 required skillj and cost to a l~n-~sca~ing job. There still exists a need for plant multi-cell packs which minimi7e synthetic resin consumption. There still exists a need for a plant multi-cell pack which is low weight, has a plurality of plants per cell, and which can be quickly and easily m~nuf~tllred. There still exists a need for a plant multi-cell pack which can be used in l~n(lsc~pe applications which does not leave 35 large quantities of plastic trays, tray inserts, and / or flats to pickup. There still is a need for a plant multi-cell pack which can be easily divided into uniform pieces to Plivue Seri~l Numù~: M1296C~ P 3 - 2194Q~5 make the landscaping job appear more tidy and professional. There still is a need for a plant multi-cell pack which can easily be divided into uniform pieces with a predictable number of plants in each piece. There still is a need for plant multi-cell packs which can easily, effectively and reproducibly be adjusted in size and shape at 5 the landscape job to most effectively add color or texture to a particular part of a garden. There still is a need for plant multi-cell packs which are garden friendly and have MSP reinforcementc which degrade over time. There still is a need for a multi-cell pack with built in partition lines and designed with a particular plant count per planting section. There still is a need for a multi-cell pack with built in partition lines o and dçcigned with a particular plant count per planting section so that customers are assured that the planting section size and plant count has all been pred~signed just for their needs, and thus ~;u~lolllel~ are generally more comfortable in sepalalillg the plants.
It is an object of the current invention to develop improved plant multi-section5 packs. Using bio-engineering~ new and useful plant multi-section packs have been developed. It is an object of the current invention to develop plant multi-section packs which minimi7e synthetic resin consu~,plion. It is an object of the current invention to develop plant multi-section packs which are low weight, have a plurality of plants per section, and which can be quickly and easily m~mlf~ red. It is an object of the 20 current invention to develop plant multi-section packs which can be used in l~ndsc~pe applications which do not leave large quantities of plastic trays, tray inserts, and / or flats to pickup. It is an object of the current invention to develop plant multi-section packs which can be used in landscape applications which can be easily divided into uniform pieces to make the landscaping job appear more tidy and professional. It is 15 an object of the current invention to develop a plant multi-section pack which can easily be divided into uni~llll pieces with a predictable number of plants in each piece. It is an object of the current invention to develop plant multi-section packs which can easily, effectively and reproducibly be adjusted in size and shape at the l~ntlsc~pe job to most effectively add color or texture to a particular part of a garden.
30 It is an object of the current invention to develop some preferred embodimçnt~ of plant multi-section packs which are garden friendly and have MSP reinforcem~nts which degrade over time. It is an object of the current invention to develop a multi-cell pack with built in partition lines and designed with a particular plant count per planting section so that customers are assured that the planting section size and plant 35 count has all been predesigned just for their needs.

Pri~u.c S~id Numbu-: Ml296CA P- ~

Other objects and advantages of the current invention will become more appal~nt to those skilled in the art in view of the following description and examples.

Brief Descliption of Drawing Figures A brief description of the figures and reference numerals follows:

FIG 1 is a simplified perspective view of one embodiment of a newly seeded plant multi-section pack.

FIG 2 is a simplified perspective view of one embodiment of a mature plant multi-section pack.

FIG 3 is a simplified view of a plant multi-section pack reinforcement of a ~5 nonwoven with a partition line having pelrolalions.

FIG 4 is a simplified cut away view of one embodiment of a plant multi-section pack reh~ro~e~lent with a partition line having a line of degradable reinforcement.

FIG S is an illustrative cross section view of the Sag ~ecict~n(~e Test - 4A.

Reference Numerals in Drawings 40 Plant multi-section pack growing surface 42 Plant multi-section pack reillrole~ el,l (MSP reillror~e,llent) 43 Partition line in the plant multi-section pack reinforcement 43a; 43b; 43c; and 43d Particular partition lines in the multi-section pack reinforcement in Figure 3 44 Layer of planting medium 45 Apertures Privuc Seri-l N~ M1296CA p~ 5 2194~3~

46 Planting medium ~mendmçnt(s) 48 Plant starting material 50 Optional cover 52 Viable plants in plant multi-section pack 54 Plant roots 56 Roots of the upper root portion which bind the planting medium 58 Roots of the upper root portion crossing the partition line 60 Roots of the lower root portion which penetrate the MSP reinforcement 62 Roots of the lower root portion crossing the partition line 64 Alternating regions of cut lein~olce,-lent in the partition line in the multi-section pack reinforcement 66 Alternating regions of uncut l ,infolcement in the partition line in the multi-section pack reinrolcement 68a; 68b; 68c; 68d; 68e; 68f; 68g; and 68h Sections of MSP reinforcement which can become planting sections when used in a plant multi-section pack 70 Partition line of degradable material in the MSP leinfo-cc---ent 72 Nonwoven l~min~ted between sheets of paper 74 Lower layer of paper in the l~min~te 76 Upper layer of paper in the l~min~te Pri~ue Scri~l Numb~: M1296C~ p~. 6 21 9403~

80 Support blocks 82 Thickness of test specimen 83 Spaced apart ~i~t~nce of support blocks .

84 Test specimen o 86 Reference plane from the top of one block to the other block and used as a reference line to Illea~lre the sag 88 Line mid way between the support blocks on the reference plane to measure sag 90 Measured ~i~t~n~e from Reference Numeral 88 to the top of the test specimen Summary An embodiment of this invention is directed to a plant multi-section pack having planting sections comprising a coherent porous sheet of reinforcement with at least one partition line forming a fault line for dividing the plant multi-section pack into the planting sections and a layer of planting medium contacting the sheet and wherein the layer of the planting medium is l~n~ ched to the sheet and viable plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots and whelein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates with the sheet.
An embodiment of this invention is directed to a plant multi-section pack having planting sections comprising a coherelll porous sheet of reinforcement having at least 3 partition lines forming fault lines for sep~ g the multi-section pack into planting sections, at least 2 of the partition lines intersect and wherein the partition lines are from 2 to 60 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor and a layer of planting medium Cont~cting the sheet and wherein the planting medium has at least one type of an unconnPcted discrete particulate matter and viable plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots Prin~c S~i~l Number: M1296C~ PL 7 and a lower root portion having roots and wherein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates with the sheet and roots selected from the group consisting of the roots of the upper root portion and the roots of the lower root portion cross the partition line.
Another embodiment of this invention is directed to a plant multi-section pack comprising a coherent porous sheet of reh.rorce~l,ent with at least one partition line forming a fault line and a layer of planting medium on said reinforcement and viable plants in said layer o_ planting medium and said plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots and wherein said upper root portion binds said layer of planting medium and said lower root portion penetrates said and ent~ngles with said porous sheet. Plant multi-section packs with poroussheets of at most 0.2 cm thick are preferred and porous sheets of at most 0.1 cm are more ~lefe"ed. Plant multi-section packs wherein said lower root portion which penetrates said reillrorcel,lent is at least 0.07 grams per 400 square ce ~til~let~l~ of said plant multi-section pack are prefel,ed. A porous sheet of this invention with a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.3 is prefelled and said porous sheet with a Partition Line TMpezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.1 is more prerelred. Roots of said upper root portion which cross said partition line are ~"eÇelled. Roots of said lower root portion which cross said partition line are also prere"ed. A porous sheet of this invention co",L),ised of nonwoven reinforcement is ~,efel-ed and said porous sheet comprised of nonwoven fabric is more preferred. A porous sheet of this invention with said partition line wherein said partition line is a line of pe-ro.~lions is particularly p-efelled.
An embodiment this invention is directed to a multi-section pack co""),ising a coherent porous sheet of reinfo,cell,cll~ with at least one partition line and a layer of planting medium contacting said sheet and wherein said layer of planting medium is un~tt~ch.o,~l to said sheet and viable plants in said layer of planting medium and said plants having an upper root portion and a lower root portion and wherein said upper root portion binds said layer of planting medium and said lower root portion penetrates said sheet and roots. A particularly ylefelled embodiment is a plant multi-section pack comprising a coherent porous sheet of reh~folcc,llcnt with at least one partition line and a layer of planting rnedium cont~cting said sheet and wherein said layer of planting medium has at least one type of an unconnected discrete particulate matter and viable plants in said layer of planting medium and said plants having an upper root portion and a lower root portion and wherein said upper root portion binds said layer of planting medium and said lower root portion pon-ot~t~s said sheet.

Pri~lc S~i~l Nun~ M1296CA pg- 8 219~1Q35 Particularly preferred are plant multi-section packs wherein said sheets are comprised of degradable material. More prerellt;d are plant multi-section packs wherein said sheets of degradable material are comprised of cellulosic material. Especially preferred are plant multi-section packs wherein said sheets of degradable material are comprised of peat. A plant multi-section pack as above wherein said planting medium has at least one type of uncon~lf~led discrete particulate matter selected from the group concisting of peat, perlite, ver niculite, sand, and composted organicmatter.
An embodiment this invention is directed to a plant multi-section pack co-llplising a coherent porous sheet of degradable material with at least one partition line and a layer of planting me~ m cont~cting said sheet and wlleleill said pl~nting medium is un~ttached to said sheet and viable plants in said layer of planting medium and said plants having an upper root portion and a lower root portion and wherein said upper root portion binds said layer of planting medi~lm and said lower rootportion penetrates with said porous sheet. A plant multi-section pack as above having said lower root portion which penetrates and entangles with said porous sheet isprel~lled. A plant multi-section pack as above wherein said sheet is comprised acellulosic material is more prefelled. A plant multi-section pack as above wherein said coherent porous sheet of degradable material is preferably at most 0.4 cm thick and is more preferably at most 0.25 cm thick. A plant multi-section pack as above having said sheet co~ isillg cellulosic materials having a lignin concenl~lion by weight of 50% higher than cotton fibers is especially preferred.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method of producing a plant multi-section pack on a plant multi-section pack growing surface co-l.~,lising (~? placing a coherent porous sheet of reinforcement with at least one partition line and at least two planting sections on top of the plant multi-section pack growing surface and (2)forming a layer of planting medium in contact with said porous sheet and (3) placing viable plant starting material in contact with said layer of planting medium and (4) nourishing plant starting material in order to form viable plants with root growth and said root growth having a upper root portion and a lower root portion and (S) propagating said upper root portion to bind said layer of planting medium and (6) propagating said lower root portion to penetrate said porous sheet. An improved method as above wherein step 2 coll-~,lises forming the layer of planting medium on said porous sheet. An improved method as above wherein step 6 co--l~"ises propagating said lower root portion to pene~ale and entangle with said porous sheet.

Pri~Ue Scri-l Number: M1296CA n 9 Another embodiment of the invention is a reinforcement for use in a plant multi-section pack comprising a coherent nonwoven sheet having one or more par~ition lines and said plant multi-section pack contains living plants. A coherent nonwoven sheet of this invention is preferably at most 0.2 cm thick and is more preferably at most 0.1 cm thick. A coherent nonwoven sheet of this invention with said partition line with a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.3 ispreferred and a coherent nonwoven sheet with said partition line with a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.1 is more preferred. A coherent nonwoven sheetof this invention with said partition line wherein said partition line is a line of perforations is particularly prefelled.
Based on this instant invention, I have by figures, explanation, and example shown how to effectively propagate and use these plant multi-section packs for specific customer needs. A description of prefelled embodiments are discussed herein below.

Description of prefelled embo lim~nt~ - Figures 1-5 This invention relates to a new plant multi-section pack having a new multi-section pack reinforcemf~nt Multi-unit pack is a general term used in this 10 specification to denote multi-cell packs cwlcnlly used in the industry. Illustrative examples of multi-unit packs include growing trays, plug flats, cavity seedlin~ trays, com-packs for use in flats, and multi-cell pack inserts for flats and the like. All preferred plant multi-section packs of this invention have pl~ntin~ me~ium, viable plants, and a multi-section pack reillro-celllent having at least one partition line. All 15 preferred plant multi-section packs of ~is invention have viable plants in a pl~nting medi~lm with roots. All preferred plant multi-section packs of this invention can be divided along a partition line to form a plurality of smaller planting sections to meet the needs of the l~ndsc~per. All preferred multi-section pack reinforcement (MSPreinforcement) of this invention is a coherent porous sheet of leinforcell-ent with at 20 least one partition line. An illustrative example of a partition line in the multi-section pack reinforcement is a fault line or a weak line for separating the multi-section pack into smaller sections, preferably the smaller sections having plants. One represent~tive example of a partition line is a line of perforations as discussed herein below. Preferred plant multi-section packs have some roots which cross the partition 25 line. A multi-section pack reinforcement comprised of fibers is particularly preferred. Fibers comprised of synthetic resins are more prefe~-ed. A porous Pri~le S~i~l Numb~: M1296CA p~. 10 coherent sheet of reinforcement comprised of degradable fibers is preferred and a porous coherent sheet of reinforcement con~istin~ ec~enti~lly of degradable fibers is more preferred.
Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross section of one embodiment of a newly seeded 5 plant multi-section pack according to this invention. Reference Numeral 40 is a suitable plant multi-section pack growillg surface. The growing surface is a support surface for growing the plant multi-section pack on. A replesenl~ti~e example of a plant multi-section pack growing surface is a nursery flat with holes. The standard 1020 nursery flats are particularly pref~ed because of their low cost and good o acceptance in the industry. ~lt~rnately7 a heavy (e.g. 6 mil) black polyethylene film can be used as the growing surface. A heavy black polyethylene film is effective as a growing surface for field grown applications. Other surfaces such as plywood, heavy perforated plastic f11m, rubber sheets, or concrete can also be used. The growing surface, preferably, encourages the plant roots to grow laterally and entangle with the 15 MSP reinfolce...e.-t ln a field grown application, the growing surface, prefelably, can also prevent or substantially retard weeds from growing into and through theplant multi-section pack from below. Re~lence Numeral 42 is the multi-section pack reinforcement (MSP reinforcement). A preferred example of an MSP leinro~e-llent is a coherent porous sheet of rei.ll~ .e--l Reference Numeral 43 replesen~ a 20 partition line in the MSP reinÇorce....~..1 A partition line is a line for partitioning the multi-section pack into smaller Sec~ionc, preferably having plants. Reference Numeral 44 is a layer of planting me lil)m. The layer of pl~ntin~ medium is adjusted to the optimum depth for the particular plant species. A planting medium depth from 1 to 6 cm is preferred and a depth from 1 to 4 cm is more p.erelled and a depth from 25 1 to 3 cm is even more preferred. For plant multi-section packs of this invention, different planting medillmc can be used such as REDI-EARTH0 and METRO-MIX0 manufactured by W. R. Grace or an MSW (municipal solid waste). Composted organic matter is particularly useful becaLlse of their general low cost and light weight. Soil mixes and sand mixes can also be used effectively. Further 30 representa~i./e nonlimitin~ examples of suitable planting mediums are disclosed in United States patents US 4,720, 935 by Rogers et. al., US 4,934,094 by Walton, US
4,941,282 by Milstein, US 4,986,026 by Decker, US 5,205.068 by Solomou, ~nd US 5,301,466 by Egan and are incllld~d herein by rel~rence. Further discussion of preferred planting mediums is contained herein below. Reference Numeral 45 35 represents optional apertures in the MSP reinforcement. Reference Numeral 46 re~)resell~ optional planting metlil-m am~ndm~n~c added to the layer of planting 2194~35 medium such as super absorbents, slow release fertilizer pellets, wood chips and the like. Reference Numeral 48 represen~ the plant starting materials. Representative plant starting materials include seeds, seedlings, plant plugs, rooted cutting.c, root divisions, cllttings, rhizomes, stolons, and viable plant materials derived from plant 5 tissue cultures and the like. Seeds are preferred for many plants because of their lower cost and ease of application. Seedling~;, rooted cuttings and the like are spaced according to the particular plant species and growth rates but normally are spaced on a 2 to 10 cm grid pattern. Seeding rates depend on the specific plant species orspecific mixture of species but normally are from about 0.3 to 80 Ibs per acre.
o Reference Numeral 50 rep,eserlls an optional cover which can aid early gerlllil.alion, can provide shade, can retain moisture to further improve ger"~ir,~lion and / or can provide some protection from wind or marauding birds. Clear plastic covers for flats and / or nonwoven crop covers such as REEMAYX can be used.
Figure 2 is a fr~gl,~el~ l y cross section of one embodiment of a plant multi-15 section pack according to this invention. Rererence Numeral 40 is a suitable plant multi-section pack growing surface. The growing surface supports the MSP
reinforcement and, preferably, can encourage the roots to grow laterally and cross the partition line(s) in the MSP reinforcel,lent which helps to ~ei-lfolce the partition line(s) of the MSP rehlfolce-..ent until sepal~led by the customer. Reference 20 Numeral 42 is the MSP reinforcement. Reference Numeral 43 lepresenls a partition line in the MSP reinforcçmçnt R~f~rence Numeral 44 is a layer of planting mediumon top of the MSP rehlfo-ce...~l-t Refelencc Numeral 52 depicts the viable plants in the plant multi-section pack. A prel~,led class of plants is nutritional plants which consists of herbs and veget~bles. Representative examples of nutritional plants include 25 thyme and cherry tomatoes. A preferred class of plants is orn~ment~l plants which consi~t~ of flowers and groundcovers. Represer~live examples of Ol~ 1 plantsinclude bedding plants, liriope spicata, ivy, cosmos, and hostas. A particularlypreferred class of ornamental plants consists of wildflowers. Another particularly preferred class of plants is garden plants which consists of nutritional and orn~ment~l 30 plants. A preferred class of plants is ornamental grasses. A particularly useful group of plants are plants selected from the group consisting of garden plants and grasses.
Reference NumeMI 54 leplese,l~s the plant roots. By definition, the upper root portion is the plant roots in the layer of planting medium above the MSP
reinforcement. Reference Numeral 56 are the plant roots of the upper root portion 35 which bind the planting medi~lm. This means that the roots tend to hold the layer of planting medium having loose discrete particulate matter together. In this particular Priv~le Seri-l Numb~: M1296C~ , 12 embodiment of Reference Numeral 56 the upper root portion depicted shows a representative illustration of an upper root portion having multiple roots. Multiple roots from each plant in the layer of planting medium are particularly effective in binding the planting me~ m- Rererellce Numeral 58 leplcsc.lLs the plant roots of the 5 upper root portion that cross a partition line and which help to bind the MSP
reinforcement together across the partition line. The lower root portion is the plant roots which are in the MSP reinforcel~lent and below the MSP reinforcç...ent Thelower root portion h s roots which penetrate the MSP reinforcement ~efeldbly theroots of the lower root portion peneL,a~e and ent~ngle with the MSP rcinrorcc.l-ent as discussed further herein. Reference Numeral 60 are the plant roots of the lower root portion which penetrate the pores in the MSP reinforcemçnt Reference NumeMI 62 replesel.ts the plant roots of the lower root portion that cross the partition line and which help to bind the MSP leinfolcelllent together across the partition lines. This means that the roots which cross the parti~ion line tend to hold the planting sections together until the sepa-ated by the customer. As discu~sed herein, the upper root portion and the lower root portion preferably have roots which cross a partition line and help to reinforce the plant multi-section pack until it is time to sepdlale the plant multi-section pack into smaller planting sectionc. The plant multi-section pack can be easily taken to the landscape location and sepalated into sections for planting. The need for sharp cutting tools is reduced or çlimin~tpd because the MSP reinforcement has a low tear recist~n~e line such as a line of precut perforations which facilit~tes quick, regular, and convenient divisions into planting sections. Rectangular planting sections are preferred. Rererellce Numeral 50 represents an optional cover for s~uch things as wind protection, shade, and / or over wintering protection Plant multi-section packs of this invention have a unique bio-çn~ine~red structure which combines the MSP rcil.folcelllent and growing plant roots into new and useful multi-section packs having many advantages unrealized in the industry.
Surprisingly small amounts of synthetic resin are generally concumed to make effective plant multi-section packs which are easy to carry and easy to separate into smaller planting sections of the plant multi-section pack at the partition lines at the l~n(~cc~r)e job. By definition in this specification, planting sections are the sections which result after a MSP reinforcement is divided on all of its partition lines.Further examples are given in Figure 3 and in the Method of Use section. In ~)refelled embodimen~c of this invention, each planting section of a plant multi-section pack contain at least one plant. In another plel~lled embodiment, a majority of the planting sections of a plant multi-section pack conl~;ns a plurality of plants. In Priv~lc Seri-l Number: M1296C~ P~ 13 - 21940~5 a more preferred embodiment, a majority of the planting sections of a plant multi-section pack each contain at least 3 plants. A preferred planting section of a plant multi-section pack has trom 1 to 100 plants and a more preferred planting section has from 1 to 50 plants and an even more prefel,ed planting section has from 2 to 505 plants and a most prefel,ed planting section has 3 to 25 plants. The plurality of plants improves the bio-enginePred 3 llimensional structure of each section giving them form, shape, and integrity.
Preferred plant multi-section packs are unique in using viable plant roots to help reinforce the partition lines before use and give the plant multi-section packs o their structure in the depth ~lim~ncion in the planting medium Multi-cell packs in the industry generally use a cup shaped cell with vertical sides (cell walls) to contain the shape of the growing medium and plant. These vertical sides in multi-cell packs make them bulky to ship and require additional synthetic resin to form. Plants grown in small pots or small cells of multi-cell packs can become pot bound m~ning that 5 the roots grow around and around in a circular fashion influenced by the cell walls.
If planted as they come out of the small cell, the plants can suffer from the "flower pot effect", which means- that the roots continl-e to grow in a circular pattern, they become root bound and the plant becomes stunted or dies. (Often times the plant can be pulled out of the soil months after transplanting and the roots remain subst~nti~lly 2~ in the shape of the pot). The book Secrets of Plant Propagation, by Lewis Hill, Storey Communications, 1985, on page 22 11icc~l~ses this problem with plants grown in pots. Problems generated by root binding and t~ngling in the container are also referenced in United States patent US 5,179,800 to Huang. To avoid this "flower pot effect", after removing the plant from the cell and befo.e transp!anting, the roots are 25 usually torn and spread apart. Plants surrt lhlg from the "flower pot effect" create bad will for the l~ndsc~per or retailer and thus extra training and information is necpcc~ry to avoid this-pitfall. Further, generally the more plants are planted in the small cells of a multi-cell pack insert, the more likely the resulting plants are to suffer from the "flower pot effect". Since the plant multi-section pack uses eccenti~lly flat 30 sheets of MSP reinforcement, the MSP rehlfol~elllent is less bully to ship and is lower in weight because there are no cell walls in the traditional sense separating the planting sections. The roots in the plant multi-section pack do not grow in a circular fashion influenced by the cell walls because there are no cell walls sep~ling the planting sections. When the planting sections of the plant multi-section pack are 35 separated, the roots crossing a partition line are separated and subst~nti~lly roughed up in the process of separation and the need for any further roughing up is PrivUcScri-l~lumbo: M1296CA ~g- 14 . 219qO-3~

significantly reduced or elimin:~t~d. Thus the potential for creating bad will from the "t~ower pot effect" is reduced. Further more, since there are no cell walls to the constrain the roots to grow in a circular fashion and using the process of sep~aLion described herein, multiple plants in smaller planting sections of plant multi-section 5 packs are preferred as discu~sed herein. The separation of the roots crossing the partition line is further ~isc~ ed herein below and appears to stim~ te growth of the transplanted smaller planting section~
The plant multi-section pack during propagation forms a unique bio-engineered 3 dimP-ncional reinforced structure (for example see Figure 2) with o heretofore unknown fault lines (partition lines) to f~cilit~te future division of this structure into planting section~ cont~ining viable plants at the l~n-lcc~re site.
Preferably the partition lines form lines for dividing or sepalating the multi-section pack into planting sections having predictable planting sectionc A particularly pler~led predictable plant multi-section pack has a predictable number of pl~nting 15 sections per multi-section pack. Preferred partition lines form fault lines or weak lines in the plant multi-section pack to form these predictable planting sections. Thus the partition lines replesellt predictable lines of failure, separation, or division in the plant multi-section pack. A p-erelled predictable planting section is a plantingsection selected from the group consisting of planting sections having a predictable 20 size, a predictable shape, and a predictable number of plants per planting section. A
planting section having a predictable size is prerelled. A planting section with a predictable shape is also preferred. A planting section with a predictable number of plants is particularly preferred. More preferably the partition lines form lines for dividing or separating the multi-section pack into planting sections having a reg~lar 25 size and shape. A preferred pl~nting section with a regular size and shape is a planting section having a unirollll size and shape. Another prefelled planting section is pre-measured planting section. Another preferred planting section is pre-measured regular planting section. Some planting sections can be left intact to create dir~elent shapes and sizes as di~cussed herein below. The viable plant roots penetrating the 30 MSP reinforcement at first function in a way to hold the planting sections of the plant multi-section pack together. When the plant multi-section pack is separated intosmaller sections, the viable plant roots penetrating the MSP reillrolcelllent then tend to bind the individual viable plants to their respective planting sections and thus aid division of the larger, undivided plant multi-section pack into smaller individual 35 planting sections co..~ -g the bound plants. The plant multi-section packs of this invention have partition lines in the MSP reinforcement which function as natural Priv~ Seri-l Numb~r: M1296C~ ~ . 15 ~l9~D35 fault lines in the plant multi-section pack. Preferred are plant multi-section packs with roots of the upper root portion crossing the partition line in the plantingmedium. More preferred are plant multi-section packs with a subst~nti~l number of roots of the upper root portion crossing the partition line in the planting medium.
5 For purposes of this specification, a substantial number of roots in the upper root portion crossing the partition line, are the quantity needed that when the specific plant multi-section pack is soaked with water and lifted up, it is still sufficiently strong that the planting medium remains bound, the layer of planting medium intact, and the plant multi-section pack together. Roots crossing the partition line in the planting ,o medium helps to both bind the planting rne~ium and adds strength across the weaker partition lines. Roots from plants having multiple roots in the upper root portion are particularly preferred.
Also plefelled are multi-section packs with roots of the lower root portion crossing the partition line. More plefellcd are plant multi-section packs with a15 substantial number of roots of the lower root portion crossing the partition line.
Roots of the lower root portion cr~ssing the partition line adds strength across the weak partition lines. Another more plerelled embodiment are plant multi-section packs with roots of the upper root portion and lower root portion crossing the partition line partition. An even more preferred embodiment are plant multi-section 20 packs with a ~ub~lLial number of roots of the upper root portion and the lower root portion crossing the partition line. For purposes of this specification, a substantial number of roots in the upper root portion and lower root portion crossing the partition line are the quantity needed that when the specific plant multi-section pack is soaked with water and lifted up, it is still sufficiently strong that the pl~nting m~i:~m 25 remains bound, the planting medium intact, and the plant multi-section pack does not tear or break at the partition line when lifted and shaken lightly as if by a customer.
Roots crossing the partition line in the planting medium helps to both bind the planting medium and adds strength across the weak partition lines.
- By having roots cross the partition line either above or below the partition 30 line, the partition line can be strengthened. This is a prerelled embodiment. Plant multi-section packs with at least 3 roots crossing the partition line per 5 cm length of partition line are prefe.,ed and at least S roots crossing the partition line per S cm length of partition line are more preferred and at least 8 roots crossing the partition line per S cm length of partition line are even more preferred. As the number of35 roots crossing the partition line per 5 cm length of partition line increase, the reinforcement of the plant multi-section pack increases. The upper limit to the Pri~te Sai~l Numb~: M1296CA P~ 16 number of roots crossing the partition line per 5 cm length of partition line is usually determined by propagation conditions, species, plant density, and economics. For a broad range of plants, plant multi-section packs with from 3 to 500 roots crossing the partition line per 5 cm length of partition line are preferred and from 5 to 500 roots 5 crossing the partition line per 5 cm length of partition line are more prerelled and from 5 to 200 roots crossing the partition line per 5 cm length of partition line are even more preferred. In particular cil~u...~ ~nces, even greater numbers of roots crossing the partition line can be prop~ed. The preferred number of roots crossing _ the partition line per 5 cm of length is related to the specific plant multi-section pack o by such parameters as the plant specie(s), nu.llber of plants and plant density, plant size, propagation con~i~ions, and planting medium depth.
The plant multi-section packs have a new and a dirrt;-elll structure with partition lines which result in fault lines for separding the planting sections. The strength of the fault lines is bio-~n~ine~red by selecting the ease of tearing of the 15 MSP leil~rorcelllent partition line and the root rei lÇol~elllent added back in during prop~g~tion. Thus prefeired multi-section packs have a new, different structure and function in a dirrerenL way to produce a dirrerelll result from any multi-unit packs known in the industry. The partition lines (such as weak lines or fault lines) in the coherent porous sheet of reillforcelllent function in a way to permit division of the 20 coherent porous sheet of reinforcel-lelll along the partition lines to form smaller planting sections. Plant multi-section packs are unique in using planting sections to create different and reproducible shapes of colors and teAlures aiding field inct~ tion of a custom l~n~sc~re with reduced effort. The "flower pot effect~ is reduced orçlimin~t~od along with the extra training and labor neces~y to plopelly sep~dte the 25 roots.
Plant multi-section packs ...ini.--;~e material consumption both before and after planting. MSP reinforcement can be easily shipped and stored before use in compact and lightweight rolls. A 10 lb roll, 14 inches in di~meter and 9.5 inches wide, of the MSP reinforcement (10 gpsm basis weight) has enough sheets for about 3,500 30 standard 1020 nursery flats of plant multi-section packs. In sharp contrast, one hundred D801 8 cell inserts (insert size 10 1/2 inch by 21 inch by 2 5/16 inch deep) for the same 1020 nursery flat have a sl-ipl)ing weight of about 20 to 25 Ibs. These same 8 cell inserts (D801) are shippe~ in boxes of 100 per box and box size is 10 inches by 20 inches by 21 inches. Thus not only are some the multi-cell packs much 35 heavier to ship they can be much bulkier to ship and store. Typical D801 multi-cell packs are made by TOP Plastics in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The problem Pri~e S~i~l ~umba: M1296CA Pi~ ~7 21940~

recognition, unique advantages, and the new bio-engineered solution of this invention are not found in the art.
Plant multi-section packs of this invention have particular preferred dimensions and dimension relationships to facilitate grower and customer h~ndling 5 and further help to reduce materials use. The layer of planting medium is adjusted to the optimum depth for the particular plant species and grower containers. A planting medium depth from 1 to 9 cm is plefel,ed and a depth from 1 to 6 cm is more prerel~ed and a depth from 1 to 4 cm is even more preferred and a depth from 1 to 3 cm is most preferred. Plant multi-section packs of this invention having a ratio of the .o length of the plant multi-section pack in centimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in ce..~i...~tel~, of at least 3/1 are preferred and a ratio of the length of the plant multi-section pack in centimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in c~ntimeters of at least 6/1 are more preferred and a ratio of the length of the plant multi-section pack in centimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimeters of at least 15 8/1 are even more prefe,led and a ratio of the length of the plant multi-section pack in cçntimet~rs to the depth of the multi-section pack in ce~.l;.neters of at least 10/1 are most prefe-led. Plant multi-section packs of this invention having a ratio of the length of the plant multi-section pack in cçntimet~rs to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimeters from 3/1 to 120/1 are prerelled and a ratio of the length of the plant ,0 multi-section pack in centimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimeters from 5/1 to 100/1 are more preferred and a ratio of the length of the plant multi-section pack in ce~i,-.elers to the depth of the multi-section pack in cPntimet~rs from 8/1 to 80/1 are even more prerelled. An example calculation is if the length of the plant multi-section pack is 60 cm and the depth of the plant multi-section pack is 3 25 cm, then the ratio of the length of the plant multi-section pack in centim~ters to the depth of the multi-section pack is 20/1. By having the plant multi-section pack with these high ratios, the area of plants to the amount of planting media used is improved thus reducing growing costs. Further more, the relatively high ratios of length to depth serve to constrain the plant roots and encourage lateral root growth in the 30 planting medium to bind both the planting medium and the planting sections together to form the new and useful bio-engin~Rred structure found in the plant multi-section packs.
Another ratio to describe some particularly ple~elled plant multi-section packs is the ratio of the area of the multi-section pack in square centimeters to the depth of 35 the multi-section pack in square centimeters. Plant multi-section packs of this invention having a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square Priv~t~ S~i-l Numb~: M1296C~ ~. 18 cçntimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimeters at least 20 cm2/1 cm are preferred and a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square centimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimet~Prs at least 40 cm2/1 cm are more plefe-lcd and a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square 5 centimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in cel.lh.lel~.s at least 80 cm2/1 cm are even more preferred and a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square centimeters to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimetPrs at least 100 cm2/1 cm are most prefelled. Plant multi-section packs of this invention having a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square centimp~tprs to the depth of o the multi-section pack in cPntimeters from 20 to 3000 cm2/1 cm are l)leÇe.led and a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square centimp~tp-rs to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimetprs from 40 to 2500 cm2/1 cm are more plerelled and a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square ce..l;...ete~s to the depth of the multi-section pack in centimeters from 80 to 2000 cm2/1 cm are even15 more prefelled and a ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square centimPters to the depth of the multi-section pack in ce--li---etP-s from 100 to 2000 cm2/1 cm are most prc;relled. An example calculation is if the area of the plantmulti-section pack is 1800 cm2 and the depth of the multi-section pack is 3 cm, then the ratio of the area of the plant multi-section pack in square centimeters to the depth 20 in centimeters of the multi-section pack is 600 cm2/1 cm. By having the plant multi-section pack with these high ratios, the area of plants to the amount of planting media used is improved thus reducing growing costs. Further more, the relatively high ratios of length to depth and area to depth serve to constrain the plant roots and encourage lateral root growth in the planting medium to aid in binding both the _5 planting mP~ m and the planting sections together to form the new and useful bio-engineered structure found in the plant multi-section packs.
Further ~iscussion of pre~elled MSP reinforcernent~, planting mediums, plants, and embo~lim~ntc is cont~ined herein below.

30 MSP Reinforcements All plant multi-section packs of this invention have MSP reinÇorcelllents with partition lines. The partition lines separate the MSP reillrolcelllent into a plurality of uniform reproducible plant multi-section pack planting sections. A partition line, by definition in this specification, is a weak line in the MSP lt;h~ofcelllent whereby an 35 applied stress causes the MSP reinforcement to reproducibly sepaldl~ along said partition line. One embodiment of a partition line is a line of pelrol~lions which Pri~Yc Se~i~l Numba: M1296C~ p~ 19 219~û35 causes a MSP reinforcement to tear in a line. Another preferred embodiment of a partition line is a partition line having a low ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSP reinforcement and is further ~liscucsed herein below.
Still another embodiment is a combination of both a thinner partition line and perforations at the partition line. ASTM D 1117-80-14 is the Trapezoid tear test for testing nonwoven fabrics. The nonwoven fabric is tested using ASTM D 1117-80-14 without a partition line to determine its breaking load. The same nonwoven fabric with a partition line located mid way between the jaws of the tensile testing m~chine is tested by the same ASTM D 1117-80-14 procedure and in the same manner to o determine its Trapezoid tear strength. By definition in this specification, the ratio of the trapezoid tear strength of nonwoven with the partition line to the trapezoid tear strengtn of the same nor.vvo~cn in a region without a partition line is called the Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio. As an example if the Trapezoid Tear of a nonwoven witn a partition line is 0.5 Ib and the Trapezoid Tear of the same nonwoven without a partition line is 5.0 Ib, the partition line of this nonwoven has a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of 0.1. An MSP rehlrorcelllent with a partition line with a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.5 is prefelled and a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.3 is more prerel-ed and a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.2 is even more preferred and a Partition Line ~o Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at most 0.1 is most p-efel-ed. For most plant multi-section packs, a partition line with a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of at least 0.0001 is preferred and at least 0.0003 is more preferred and at least 0.0005 is even morepreferred. The Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio is plerelably c~lcul~ted for unused MSP reinforcçm.ontc or in other words, calculated on MSP reinforcementc before use in a plant multi-section pack. An unused MSP reinrorcel-lent with a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio from 0.5 to 0.0001 is prerelled and a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio from 0.3 to 0.0001 is more preferred and a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio from 0.2 to 0.0003 is even more prere,led and a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio from 0.2 to 0.0005 is most preferred. A partition line with a very low Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio is effective for very strong MSP
reinforcementc and / or when the partition line Trapezoid tear strength degrades to nearly zero during propagation. A MSP reinforcement with partition lines having a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio which is large enough to ~..ain~ the integrity of the MSP reinrolce,llent during shipping, handling and in~t~ tion onto the growing 35 surface is particularly prerelled. The Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio generally has a major influence on the separation of the plant multi-section pack into the pre-Priv-lc S~i-l Nu~ M1296C/~ K 20 2194:~5 measured regular, smaller planting sections. The Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio is a useful test for guidance in desi~ning and developing plant multi-section packs.
When the partition line consists of particularly degradable material and / or isparticularly thin, the partition line tear strength can degrade to 0 strength during 5 propagation and the preferred roots crossing the partition line will retain the planting sections in a plant multi-section pack until it is separated. Thus when particularly degradable material is used for the MSP reillrol~e..~ent and the Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio is measured after the MSP reinforcement is subjected to theplanting me~ m and degradation, a Partition Line Trapezoid Tear Ratio of from 0.5 o to 0 is preferred and from 0.3 to 0 is more preferred.
Preferred partition lines separate the MSP rei-lro~el-~ent into a plurality of uniform reproducible plant multi-section pack planting sections. Again, a partition line, by definition in this specification, is a weak line or fault line in the MSP
reinforcement whereby an applied stress causes the MSP rei.lrolce...ent to 15 reproducibly se~a.~le along said pa-lilion line. For MSP reinro ce.~.f~ constructed - of cellulose based products such as cellulose fibers, paper fibers and peat fibers ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength test is a plere-led test method to use for helpful gui~n~e. A preferred embodiment of a partition line is a partition line thiclrness which is less than the average thickness of the MSP reinforcement. A partition line zO thickness which is less than the average thi~n~-ss of the MSP leinrorce-.,ent is particularly preferred for peat and paper MSP reinrol~em~ntc, especially thick ones.
A particularly prere-led embodiment of a partition line is a co-,lbinaLion of both a low ratio of the partition line thinlfntoss to the average thirl~necc of the MSP reillrorce-l-ent and pelÇo-~tions at the partition line for peat and paper MSP reinrolce...e"l~. The Z5 peat or paper MSP leir.ro-ce--lent is tested using ASTM D 828 - 93 without a partition line to determine its tensile strength. The same MSP rei..rorce,..elll with a partition line located mid way between the jaws of the tensile testing m ~~hine is tested by the same ASTM D 828 - 93 procedure and in the same manner to dele.,..ine its tensile strength. By definition in this spenification~ the ratio of the tensile strength of 30 MSP reinforcement with the partition line to the tensile strength of the same MSP
reinfolcel"ent without a partition line is called the Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio. As an example if the MSP re.l,rorce,..ent tensile strength with a partition line is 1.6 Ib and the tensile strength of the same MSP without a partition line is 8 Ib, the partition line of this MSP reinforcement has a Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio of 3~ 0.2. The Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio is p,efe,ably calculated for unused MSP reinrorce..,entc or in other words, calculated on MSP reinforcem~ntc before use Prinlc S~i-l Number: MIZ96CA p~ Zl ~ 2l94b3~ -in a plant multi-section pack. An unused MSP reinforcementc with a Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio from 0.5 to 0.0001 is preferred and a Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio from 0.3 to 0.0001 is more preferred and a Partition Line TensileStrength Ratio from 0.3 to 0.0003 is even more prefc-,led and a Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio from 0.2 to 0.0005 is most plefelled. A partition line with a very low Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio is effective for very strong MSP reinforcements.
Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio is a helpful and preferred test for guidance when developing new MSP reinfolcements. MSP reil,rolcc",~ntc with partition lines having a Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio which is large enough to m~int~in the ,0 integrity of the MSP leinforcelnent during shipping, h~n-iling and inct~ tion onto the growing surface is particularly plerelled. The Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio has a major influence on the sepal~lion of the plant multi-section pack into the pre-measured regular, small planting sections. When the partition line consists of particularly degradable material and / or is particularly thin, the partition line tensile strength can degrade to 0 strength during propagation and the prefc-lred roots crossing the partition line will retain the planting sections in a plant multi-section pack until it is separated. Thus when particularly degradable material is used for the MSP
reinforcement and the Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio is measured after the MSP reinforcement is subjected to the planting medium and degradation, a Partition Line Tensile Strength Ratio of from 0.5 to 0 is preferred and from 0.3 to 0 is more preferred.
All plant multi-section packs of this invention have a plurality of plant multi-section pack planting sections and these sections are formed by separ~ling the grown viable plant multi-section pack at the partition lines. ~erelled plant multi-sc-c ion packs have fault lines wllerein the fault lines are bio-engineered. The number and spacing of these fault lines are important to the versatility of the preferred plant multi-section packs. The plant multi-section packs have bio-en~in~red fault lines to facilitate unirorl., division into smaller sections of viable plants. The number and spacing of partition lines is thus filnd~ment~l to the pe-roll--ance, utility, and 30 versatility of the prereed viable plant multi-section packs. A MSP reinforcement has at least one partition line and a MSP reinforcement with at least 2 partition lines is preferred and a MSP reinrorce---ent with at least 3 partition lines is even more preferred and a MSP reinforcel..elll with at least 4 partition lines is most pref~l.ed. A
MSP rehlrorce~e,lt with at most 50 partition lines is preferred and a MSP
35 reinforcement with at most 20 partition lines is more plerelled and a MSP
reinforcement with at most 16 partition lines is even more p-erc~ d and a MSP

Pri~ue S~sbl Numb~: M1296C~ p~. 22 reinforcement with at most 10 partition lines is most preferred. An MSP
reinforcement with from 2 to 50 partition lines is plefelled and from 3 to 50 partition lines is more plerelled and from 4 to 20 partition lines is even more preferred and from 4 to 16 partition lines is most plerc.led. All MSP reinforcemf ntc have one or 5 more partition lines so they can be divided into a plurality of planting sections.
Partition lines too close together can cause plant multi-section packs to separate into less than optimum planting section sizes and with less than optimum plant content.
The prerc.led size depends on many pa,~ll,f lers such as plant species, l~n(~$care needs, and budget. MSP reinf(,.-;e.,.f 1~ with the partition lines spaced at least 2 cm o from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are prert;lled and MSP
reinforcementc with the partition lines spaced at least 4 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are more preferred and MSP le;nfolcç~ ntc with the partition lines spaced at least 6 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are even more preferred and MSP reinfolce."f ~c with the partition lines spaced at least 8 cm 15 from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are most preferred. MSP
reinforcementc with the partition lines spaced at most 60 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are pl~f~,.led and partition lines spaced at most 30 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are more preferred and partition lines spaced at most 20 cm from their nearest parallel pa~tition line neighbor are even more p~felled. MSP reinforcemf ntc with the partition lines spaced from 2 to 60 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are preferred and MSP
reinforcementc with the partition lines spaced from 3 to 60 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor are more prefclled and MSP reinforcementc with the partition lines spaced from 4 to 40 cm from their nearest parallel partition line 25 neighbor are prefelled and MSP rei.,Ço.ce-,~entc with the partition lines spaced from 4 to 30 cm from their nearest. parallel partition line neighbor are most preferred.
Larger spacing often can be done more effectively in larger mats. Closer sp~cing can be effective but does generally call for more delic~te sepa-~tion. The ability and versatility to grow various spacing best utilized for the specific l~ndsc~pe application 30 iS an important feature of this invention.
The utility and versatility of plant multi-section packs results from having a plurality of potential plant multi-section pack planting sections which the grower, retailer, l~n(l~c~er, or end-user decides how to sep~le. The plant multi-sectionpack planting sections can be used individually or in many co---binations. All plant 35 multi-section packs of this invention have at least 2 planting sections. A plant multi-section pack with at least 3 planting sGction~ is plere-red and a plant multi-section Printe S~i~l Number: M1296C~ ~ 23 ~194035 pack with at least 4 planting sections is more prerelled and a plant multi-section pack with at least 6 planting sections is even more preferred and a plant multi-section pack with at least 8 planting sections is most preferred. A plant multi-section pack with at most 200 planting sections is prefelled and a plant multi-section pack with at most 60 5 planting sections is more preferred and a plant multi-section pack with at most 48 planting sections is even more prerelled and a plant multi-section pack with at most 24 planting sections is most plt;relled. A plant multi-section pack with from 2 to 200 planting sections is preferred and a plant multi-section pack with from 2 to 100planting sections is more pr~re"ed and a plant multi-section pack with from 3 to 72 lO planting sections is even more prefe,led and a plant multi-section pack with from 4 to 48 planting sections is most preferred. A MSP reinfolcelllent is prefelred which has all plant multi-section pack plstnting sections of a regular size and shape. Rectangular planting sections are particularly preferred. Represenldli~e MSP ,e;nfolce-..en which when used according to this invention have multiple regular, rectangular t5 planting sections are shown in Figure 3 and are discussed further herein below.
In this instant invention the MSP reinforcement is prefeldbly a coherent porous sheet of reinfolce-"e.l~ co.~l;.inin~ therein partition lines. This coherent sheet of MSP reinforce.llent is lightweight, easily stored before use, and easily h~n~lle~
The MSP reinforcement is plefelably at most 0.4 cm thick and more prefclably at 20 most 0.2 cm thick and even more prefeldbly at most 0.1 cm thick and most preferably at most 0.05 cm thick. MSP reinforcements of at least 0.002 cm thick are preferred and MSP reil~fo~e...çnt~ at least 0.003 cm are more preferred and MSP
reinforcements at least 0.006 cm are even more prere"ed. ~efelled MSP
reinforcements are from ~.4 to 0.002 cm thick and more prefe"ed are MSP
25 reinforcements from 0.4 to 0.003 cm thick and even more prefell~d are MSP
reinforcements from 0.3 to 0.003 cm thick and most preferred are MSP
reinforcements from 0.2 to 0.006 cm thick. The nonwoven fabric rcillrorcement thickness is measured by ASTM D-1777-64. This MSP reillforcelnent thir~n~ss facilitates easy storage (such as on rolls or compact boxes) and easy reinforcement 30 handling. Thicker porous reinrorce"lent generally improves root ent~nglemrnt of the roots of the lower root portion with the MSP reinforcement and is preferred for some applications.
MSP leil~force",ent~ which have dirrerent amounts of flexibility can be preferred for dirrere.~t types of applications. MSP reinforce.,.e~ which are flexible 35 are particularly preferred. Flexible MSP reinfolcements are especially useful when the MSP reinforcement is shipped and stored on compact rolls. MSP reinforcelllents Priv~tc S~i~l Numbct: M1296CA p~ 24 21~4Q~5 which are 9 cm wide and 9 cm long and can be bent 180~ around a 0.5 cm (liAmett~r rod without cracking or breaking are by definition flexible in this specification. MSP
reinforcements which are 9 cm wide and 9 cm long and crack or break when bent 180~ around a 0.5 cm (3iAmeter rod are by definition inflexible in this specification.
5 MSP reinforcement~ are tested for flexibility before use in a plant multi-section pack.
Another illustrative example of a inflexible MSP rcinrolcclllent is a synthetic fiber reinforced coherent sheet of porous coll-pressed peat with dpel lures and partition lines which are perforated. An illustrative example is a laminate formed with a sheet of compressed peat on top and a sheet of co---ylcssed peat on the bottom and pieces of ,0 nylon nonwoven fabric l~ ed there between with a resulting structure similar to Figure 4. Another illu~ative example is a l~...in~e formed with a sheet of compressed peat on top and a sheet of co...yressed peat on the bottom and nylon nonwoven fabric 1AIII;n~ted there belwcen and having a partition line of perforations.
Many suitable adhesives are known in tne art. An MSP reinrorcel--ent with at least 5 3% peat by weight is preferred and at least 30% by weight is more plerclrcd and at Ieast 70% peat by weight is even more prefe.led. An MSP with about 100% by weight peat is effective. An illustration of this is found in Example 5 herein. An inflexible MSP reinforcement can be easier to handle and load in some operations.
Further, many inflexible MSP reinforce...ent~ have very good root ~nt~ngl~m~nt with 20 the plant roots and thus have good plant multi-section pack h~n~lling and sep~tion characteristics .
MSP reinforcement~ having some synthetic fibers are often p~fe-.ed. A
preferred class of a MSP reinforcement is a nonwoven. Another plere..ed class of a MSP rehlro~ement is a fabric. Another prefelled class of MSP reinforcelllent is a 25 porous film which supports root penetration and entanglement. A particularly prere-led class of MSP rei-lro-~;e--~ent is nonwoven fabric. By definition in this specification, a nonwoven fabric is a textile structure produced by bonding or interlocking of fibers, or both, accomplished by ...~och~nic~l, chemical, thermal, or solvent means or combinations thereof. Woven and knitted fabrics can be used as a 30 MSP reinforcementc and are useful especially when used with grasses. Openings in the woven and knitted fabrics of from 0.1 to 1 cm are plerel-ed and from 0.2 to 0.6 cm are more preferred. A p,efe -ed class of synthetic MSP reinforcement is a web.
A nonwoven web is a particularly prerelred class of MSP leinrorce~llent Another suitable class of synthetic MSP ,einrolcel,-ent is a synthetic netting. Preferred MSP
35 reinforcements have fibers which are further discussed herein. Ino-ganic fibers can be used. Glass fibers are an illustrative eAa"lple of an inorganic fiber. Fibers based Prinlc Seli-l Numb~: M1296CA pc. 25 on synthetic resins can also be used and are particularly prefelled for their low cost, excellent strength, and excellent flexibility. Illustrative examples of synthetic reinforcement~ without partition lines are found in US 4,336,668 issued to Decker, US 4,941,282 issued to Milstein, US 5,189,833 issued to Clark, US 5,224,290 issued to Molnar et al, US 5,344,470 issued to Molnar et. al., US 5,345,713 issued to Molnar et al, and US 5,346,514 issued to Molnar et al. The above references are, of course, meant as helpful examples and guidance for those of ordinaly skill in art and are not meant to limit the MSP reinrolcementc which can be modified for use in this invention by adding partition lines.
,o ~erelled nonwoven fabrics are spunbond nonwovens, hydroentangled nonwovens, and carded nonwovens. Hydroent~ngled and spunbonded nonwovens are especially preferred types of nonwoven MSP rchlÇolcelllents because they are easily produced, highly versatile, have minimllm chemical additives (for example, binders), and have good MSP reillrorcelllent characteristics. Pattern bonded nonwoven fabrics and pattern entangled nonwoven fabrics are particularly preferred because of their excellent ability to reirlro~e plant multi-section packs. Pattern bonding means that only loc~li7ed regions of the nonwoven fabric are bonded and the re.--ainin~
nonbonded fiber regions contain fibers which can move, entangle and otherwise promote excellent see~ling root çnt~ngl~ment to form exceptional plant multi-section packs. For purposes of this specific~tion, pattern entangled nonwoven fabrics are defined as nonwoven fabrics with very high fiber ent~n~lçm~nt regions and very low fiber entanglement regions. If the çnt~nglement is a factor of 2 higher in the high çnt~nglement regions versus the low entanglement regions in pattern çnt~ngly~
nonwoven fabrics, the nonwoven fabric is a pattern entangled nonwoven fabric. Area t5 bonding refers to fabrics where the fibers in the fabric are bonded at essçli~lly all fiber junctions (or cross-over points) to each other. For the purposes of this specification, area entangled nonwoven fabrics have relatively uniform entanglement across the surface area. For inst~nce, if the entanglement is less than a factor of 2 higher in the high entanglement regions versus the low entanglement regions in pattern entangled nonwoven fabrics, the nonwoven fabric is a area entangled nonwoven fabric. Further examples, discussion and figures illu~ ling these types of nonwoven fabrics are found in US 5,346,514 and are included herein by reference.MSP reinforcements comprised of many synthetic resins are effective. A
MSP reinforcement comprised of polyesters, polyolefins, acrylics, and nylons arepreferred. Particularly preferred chemi~tries are polyesters, nylons, and polyolefins.
Polyolefins are particularly preferred because of their low cost, availability, and Prinl~e Scri-l Numb~: MIWCA P8 26 219~03$

versatility. Nylons are preferred because of their water infiltration characteristics and very good perfol,..ance. Polyesters are prerelled because their fibers have goodphysicals, they have a good cost position, and availability is good. Preferred polyolefins include polypropylene and polyethylene. An example of a p-efe-led 5 polyethylene copolymer is linear low density polyethylene. Pler~lled polyethylenes are copolymers of polyethylene with higher alpha-olefins. Higher alpha olefins having 3 to 18 carbon atoms are plefel.ed. Higher alpha olefins having 4 to 18 carbon atoms are particularly pleÇelled. Preferred types of nylon include nylon 6 and nylon 66. A prefel~ble polyester is polyethylene terephth~l~te. Copolymers, terpolymers, l0 and derivatives of the respective synthetic resins can be used. Other especially prererled che...;~.ies include degradable synthetic resins w_ich when formed into MSP leinfolce...en~c meet the test protocols for the Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A
and the soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 diccl~cced herein below.
Plerel.cd examples include a polyethylene tereph~l~te copolym~ri7ed with 15 polyethylene glycol and a 5-sulfoisophth~lic acid (and if desired a polyethylene ether) and a thermoplastic resin composition having a polylactic acid of lactic acids or a copolymer of polylactic acids or other hydroxycarboxylic acids as a main co~ )onent, cellulose di~cet~te, and cell-llose Lliacek~le. Copolymers, terpolymers, and derivatives of synthetic resin fibers meetin~ limitations co.~ .ned herein can be used 20 for MSP reinfolce...entc. Those skilled in the art know how to make degradable synthetic resins. Nonlimiting illustrative g~lid~nne is found in US patents US
5,409,751 to Suzuki, US 5,294,469 to Suzuki, US 5,171,309 to G~ gher, US
5,171,308 to G~ gh~-r, and US 5,053,482 to Tietz and are included herein by reference. Cellulose ~liacet~te and lliacelale fibers are available coll;lllelcially from 25 Hoechst Ce1~nese, Rock Hall, SC.
The technology to produce nonwovens is well known and well docum~ntçd in the art. A particularly well known ~ef~lellce is the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia ofChemical Technology published by John Wiley and Sons, London/New York, Vol.
16, 3rd Edition, 1978, pages 72-124. Products of this general description are 30 available commercially from co...p~nies such as Kimberly-Clark in Neenah, WI,Johnson & Johnson Advanced Materials Co. in New Brunswick, NJ, and Poly-bond Incorporated in Charlotte NC, and Cerex Advanced Fabrics, LP. These are meant ashelpful e~mpl~c and guid~n~e for those of ordinary skill in art and are not meant to limit the MSP reinfolce...entc which can be modified for use in this invention (for 35 instance, by adding partition lines).

pri~e S~i-l Numba: M1296C~ p~. 27 21g~,~35 MSP reinforcelnentc comprised of a coherent porous sheet of degradable material can be effective for l~n(lsc~r)e applications. MSP reinforcements consisting essentially of a coherent porous sheet of degradable material are especially effective for garden friendly applications. Effective coherent sheets of degradable porous5 material offer good root penetration, propagation characteristics, good h~n~lling characteristics, have good strength to support planting section separation afterpropagation, and degrade over time to blend in with the garden soil.
I have discovered that MSP reillforce-nents of this invention can be used to produce good plant multi-section packs when the MSP reinrolcel-lent meets ,o particular preferred degradation tests. These preferred tests are diswc~ed below.
The soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 is used to define preferable degradable material, çsreri~lly fibers of degradable material, for use in a MSP reillrorcelllent within this specification. The l)refelled Soil - Sl is composed of 50% by volume of top soil or leaf mold, 5% by volume of well rotted an~ shredded15 COW manure, and 45% by volume of coarse sand. The degradable matrix material is tested by the soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 for a specified period of time. An exposure period of 12 to 36 months is used. If the degradablematerial has decomposed or disappeared, the matrix material is collSl--,ed as being degradable in this specification. Degradable material after e~posule and degradation 20 of 36 months having at most a length from 0 to 0.1 cm is preferred and after exposure and degradation of 24 months having at most a length from 0 to 0.1 cm is more plerel-ed and after exposure and degradation of 18 months having at most a length from 0 to 0.1 cm is more prerel,ed and after exposure and degradation of 18 months having at most a length from 0 to 0.5 cm is most prefelled. Degradation can 25 be identified by chemical analyses generally known to those skilled in the art. An illustrative example is a reduction of molecular weight of a degradable synthetic resin fiber. Degradable material after a soil burial test according to AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 of 36 months wherein the degradable material's average length is reduced by at least 70% to from 0 to 0.1 cm is preferred. Degradable material after 30 a soil burial test according to AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 of 24 monthswherein the degradable material's average length is reduced by at least 70% to from 0 to 0.1 cm is more p~-ere--ed. Degradable material after a soil burial test according to AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 of 18 months wherein the degradable material's average length is reduced by at least 70% to from 0 to 0.1 cm is even more 35 p,efel,ed. The above soi1 burial AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 and subsequent med~ul~elllent of length reduction and average length aid desi,P.ninP garden Printe S~ri~l N~Jmb~: M1296C~ P8. 28 friendly MSP reinforcements which can be easily dispersed into the garden soil after the plant multi-section pack has served its useful purpose.
Another preferred use for the soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 is to predict how easily rem~ining MSP reil~rorcelllent can be broken and5 dispersed in the garden soil using physical mixing such as tilling, rototilling, or other mech~nic~l mixing means after they have served their useful purpose. This test is particularly useful where the MSP reinfolcel~,ent is a coherent porous sheet of degradable material._The prefe~ed Soil - Sl for the soil burial AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 is composed of 50% by volume of top soil, 5% by volume of well rotted and shredded cow manure, and 45% by volume of coarse sand. The MSP
reinrorcel,.cnt is exposed to the soil burial test. After a specified period of soil burial test exposure the MSP leinfolcement is carefully removed and rinsed and allowed to dry out for 7 days at 23~ C. The MSP .~i..folce..lenl is then tested to delel..li.le the percentage retention of grab tensile strength after exposure to the soil burial test in a 15 region without a partition line. Grab tensile strength is leasuicd by Test Method ASTM D-1682-64 (in a region without a partition line). A coherent porous sheet of degradable material which retains from 0 to 10% of said sheet's original grab tensile strength after a soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 of 36 months is preferred and said sheet which retains from 0 to 109~ of said sheet's original grab tensile strength after a soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 of 24months is more preferred and said sheet which retains from 0 to 10% of said sheet's original grab tensile strength after a soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 of 18 months is even more pre~elled and said sheet which retains from 0 to 10% of said sheet's original grab tensile strength after a soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1 of 12 months is most ~Jrefe-l~d. The loss of grab tensile strength after s--c~tined soil burial helps to assure easy acsimil~tion of the planting section regions of the MSP reinforcement by m~h~nical mixing means into the garden.
For MSP reinforcement sheets constructed of naturally occurring cellulosic material such as cellulose fibers, paper fibers and peat fibers (particularly stiff or thick coherent porous sheets), ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength test is particularly preferred. The same soil burial test ASTM D 202-92 Method B testing procedures are used along with the same Soil - S1 for the soil burial ASTM D 202-92 Method B
consisting of 50% by volume of top soil, 5% by volume of well rotted and shredded COW manure, and 45 % by volume of coarse sand. A coherent porous sheet of degradable material which retains from 0 to 10% of said sheet's original ASTM D

Privue ScriJI Num~ Mt296CA Pi:. 29 219~f)35 828 - 93 tensile strength after a soil burial test ASTM D 202-92 Method B of 36 months is preferred and said sheet which retains from 0 to 10% of said sheet's original ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength after a soil burial test ASTM D 202-92Method B of 24 months is more preferred and said sheet which retains from 0 to 10%
5 of said sheet's original ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength after a soil burial test ASTM D 202-92 Method B of 18 months is even more prefelled and said sheet which retains from 0 to 10% of said sheet's original ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength after a soil burial test ASTM D 202-92 Method B of 12 months is most prefelled. The loss of tensile strength in the sheet of cellulosic material after sust~ined soil burial o helps to assure easy ~cimil~tion by mech~nical mixing means into the garden.
The Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A provides helpful guidance for assuring that the MSP .e;llrolcement has sufficient strength at harvest to provide good h~ndling characteristics for the plant multi-section pack at harvest (and during the retail sale period and through inct~ tion). This test is particularly useful where the 15 MSP reinforcement is a coherent porous sheet of degradable material. The PeatBurial Degradation Test 2A uses a planting medium P-1 consisli-lg of 50%
sph~num peat, 25% perlite, and 25% vermiculite. The MSP reinforcement to be tested is added to a container with drain holes 2" deep and covered with 1.5 inches of the planting medium P-1. The planting medium and MSP reinro-ce---ent is watered 20 and kept moist at 23 degrees centigrade for a controlled exposure period in greenhouse conditions. After the specified period of Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A exposure, the MSP reinforcement is carefully removed and rinsed and allowed to dry out for 7 days at 23~ C. An unexposed MSP reinforcement is tested for its grab tensile strength in a region without a partition line. The exposed MSP reil rorcement 25 iS then tested to determine the percentage retention of grab tensile strength after exposure to the Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A in an equivalent region without a partition line. A coherent porous sheet of degradable material which retains from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original grab tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A of 30 days is preferred and the sheet of degradable material which retains 30 from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original grab tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A of 40 days is more prere,led and the sheet of degradable material which retains from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original grab tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A 1 of 50 days is even more preferred and the sheet of degradable material which retains from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original 35 grab tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A 1 of 70 days is most preferred. The grab tensile strength test is done in regions of the MSP having no Priv~ S~i-l Nurnb~: M129~ pg. 30 219~03~

partition lines. The retention of grab tensile strength for the specified exposure period helps assure useful h~n~ling characteristics at harvest time, during the retail sale period, and at inct~ tion.
For MSP reinforcement sheets constructed of naturally occurring cellulosic material such as cellulose fibers, paper fibers and peat fibers (particularly stiff or thick coherent porous sheets), ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength test is particularly preferred. The Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A uses the planting medium P-l concisting of 50% sph~g~m peat, 25% perlite, and 25% vermiculite. The planting me~lium covering the MSP reinforcement is watered and kept moist at 23 degrees centigrade for a controlled exposure period in greenhouse conditions. After the specified period of Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A exposure, the MSP
reinforcement is carefully removed and rinsed and allowed to dry out for 7 days at 23~ C. An unexposed MSP lehlrorcelll.,.ll is tested for its tensile strength in a region without a partition line. The exposed MSP reinrorcement is then tested to determine the percentage retention of tensile strength after exposure to the Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A in an equivalent region without a partition line. A coherentporous sheet of degradable material which retains from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A
of 30 days is ~refelled and the sheet of degradable material which retains from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A of 40 days is more preferred and the sheet of degradable material which retains from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A of 50 days is even morepreferred and the sheet of degradable material which retains from 50 to 100% of said sheet's original ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength after a Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A of 70 days is most preferred The retention of ASTM D 828 - 93 tensile strength for the specified exposure period helps assure useful h~ndling characteristics at harvest time, during the retail sale period, and at inc~ tion.
A preferred coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of degradable synthetic polymeric resins and cellulosic material. NatuMlly occulling cellulosic materials are particularly prefelled for their environm~nt~l frien~linecs Examples of naturally occurring cellulosic materials are cellulosic fibers derived from plants such as leaf fibers and wood fibers. Man made cellulosic fibers are another preferred type of cellulosic material and are discussed further herein below.
Preferred classes of cellulosic material are wood fibers, bast fibers, seed fibers, and leaf fibers. An especially prefelled class of cellulosic materials are fibers selected Priv~le Seri~l Numb~: M1296CA V- 31 2ls~n3s from the group consisting of wood fibers because of their low cost, ease of processing, and ready availability. Represent~ e wood fibers are hardwood fibersand softwood fibers. Pulp fibers can be very effective. Particularly preferred cellulosic materials have a lignin concentration by weight of 50% higher than cotton fibers and more preferably a lignin content of 100% higher by weight than cottonfibers and even more preferably a lignin content of 200% higher by weight than cotton fibers. Higher lignin concentration cellulosic material has a slower degradation rate and thus is preferred. Many wood fibers have plefelred higher amounts of lignin. A preferred coherent porous sheet of degradable material is o comprised of at least some cellulosic material. A more prefelled coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of from 10 to 100% cellulosic material by volume and an even more prefelled coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of from 20 to 100% ce~ osic by volume. A prere,led coherent porous sheet of degradable material is colllplised of at least some peat. A more pre~lled coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of from 10 to 100% peat by volume and an even more preferred coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of from 20 to 100% peat by volume. A particularly pre~elled coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of a porous sheet of sph~gnllm peat.
A more particularly preferred coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of from 20 to 100% sphagnum peat by volume. An even more particularly preferred coherent porous sheet of degradable material is comprised of a porous sheet having a mixture of sph~gn-)m peat and wood pulp. An especially prefell~d poroussheet has a mixture of sph~gm-m peat, wood pulp, and binder material. Peat is readily available, garden friendly, low cost, has a good balance of stability /
degradability for garden applications, and can be formed into sheets with good root penetration and entanglement.
Preferred coherent porous sheets of degradable material have particularly preferred ranges of thicl~n~ss and density. A preferred coherent porous sheet ofdegradable material have a thickness from 0.002 to 0.4 cm and more preferred is a thickness from O.OOS to 0.3 cm and even more preferred is a thi~lrnec~ from 0.02 to 0.25 cm. A density of the coherent porous sheet of degradable material from 0.8 to 0.15 gram per cubic cçntimeters is preferred and from 0.6 to 0.2 gram per cubic centimeters is more preferred and from 0.5 to 0.25 gram per cubic centimeters iseven more preferred. The thinner sheets are usually easier to store and ship, lower cost, and often quite effective, particularly for nonwovens formed of degradablesynthetic resins. Thicker sheets are more robust in use, often can have a somewhat Priv~lc Scri~l N.l~b~: M1296C~ p~. 32 longer Peat Burial degradation period, and thus are quite effective for slower germin~ting plants. Peat MSP lei~lrol~e!''ent~ having a density from 0.2 to 0.4 grams per cubic cPntimeter are particularly preferred. Peat MSP reinforcem~ntc from 0.1 to 0.3 cm thick are particularly preferred. Thicker sheets can be easier to load because 5 they are generally stiffer and stay put better in the nursery container. Because they are generally flat they are still easy to ship. Thin MSP leinrorce~ ntc can be especially easy to ship and store.
Those skilled in the art generally know that coherent porous sheets of degradable material can be formed from various cellulosic materials. As an ,o example, peat can be shaped into porous sheets using temperature and pres~.lre sufficient to cause reaction and poly-l-~i~lion of naturally occurring functional groups. One or more chemical reagents can be added to react wit_ and polymerize with the natural functional groups of peat and further çnh~n(~e the plopellies. Peat can be shaped into porous sheets using a binder material. Sheets of cellulosic 15 materials can be molded from fibrous cellulosic materials. For in~t~nce, a sheet can be formed by forming a slurry of pulp, passing the pulp slurry into contact with a flat mold form, completing the molding operation in the mold form, and drying the molded sheet. Cellulosic materials can be shaped into porous sheets using cellulosic materials and a binder. These and other technologies known to those skilled in the art 20 can be used to form coherent porous sheets of degradable material. Helpful nonlimiting guidance is found US patents US 5,347,753 to Dall, US 5,308,663 to Nakagawa et al., US 3,990,180 to Bunting, US 3,800,977 to Stager, US 3,315,410 to French, US 3,187,463 to McCollough, US 3,102,364 to Pullen, US 2,858,647 to Cotton, and US 2,728,169 to Spengler and are included herein by reference.
25 Commercial coherent paper and peat structures such as paper pots and peat pots are available in the industry from such co...pdl~ies as Fertil, 4, rue de la Pyramide, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt (France); Format, Cedarburg, Wisconsin; Jiffy Products of America Inc., Batvia, IL., and OS Plastics, Norcross, GA.
Important to the bio-engineered structure of preferred plant multi-section 30 packs is good viable plant root ent~nglem~nt with the MSP reinforcement. MSP
reinforcements comprised of fibers are particularly preferred. The number of fibers of the MSP reinforcement per unit area of the plant multi-section pack for the roots to penetrate and enta4gle with is important in developing this root entanglement with the MSP reinforcement. I have found that MSP reinforcements with particular Effective 35 Fiber Counts per unit area of MSP reillforcel-lent promote excellent root penetration and en~nglement and thus are preferred for many MSP reinforcement~. The Effective Pri~uc S~i~l Numb~: M129ff~ Ite. 33 Fiber Count is particularly useful for nonwovens and nonwoven fabrics. For purposes of this specification, the nonwoven Effective Fiber Count (EFC) per unit area of nonwoven is calculated using the following equation:

EFC Basis Weight (gpsm) x (9,OOOm) =

Area of Nonwoven Denier (dpf) x 110 (cm2) .o Examples of Effective Fiber Counts per square centime~er of nonwoven are included in the following Table 1.

Table 1. Nominal Effective Fiber Counts per Square C~ntimeter of nonwoven fabric Effective Fiber Count per Fabric Basis Fiber area of Wei~ht Deniernonwoven fabric Product (gpsm) (#/cm2) Accord 104 13.3 4 272 Accord 108 26.6 4 544 The Effective Fiber Count per square centimet~r of nonwoven fabric is prefeMbly at least 30 per cm2, and more prefeMbly at least 50 per cm2 and even more preferably at least 100 per cm2 and most preferably at least 150 per cm2. The Effective Fiber Count per square centimeter of nonwoven fabric is preferably at most 5000 per cm2 20 and more preferably at most 2000 per cm2 and even more preferably at most 1500 per cm2 and most preferably at most 1000 per cm2. The prefelled Effective Fiber Count per square centimeter of nonwoven fabric is influenced by parameters such as the ease of root wetting, ease of water transport to the roots, and fiber size or denier and strength of the MSP reinforcement and partition line. By experience I have found 25 the following ranges of Effective Fiber Count to be very useful for nonwovens within the indicated fiber denier ranges. For nonwovens with fiber denier per fil~ment of from about 2 to 8, Effective Fiber Count per square centimeter of nonwoven fabric is preferably from 30 to 1500 per cm2 and more preferably from 30 to 1000 per cm2 and even more preferably from 50 to 400 per cm2. For nonwoven fabrics with fiber Privuc S~i-l Numùer: M1296C~ Pe. 34 219403s denier per filament of from 0.1 to 2, Effective Fiber Count per square cçntimeter of nonwoven fabric is preferably from 30 to 5000 per cm2 and more preferably from 30 to 2500 per cm2 and even more preferably from 50 to 1500 per cm2 and most preferred from 100 to 1000 per cm2. A particularly preferable general range of 5 Effective Fiber Count per square centimeter of MSP reinforcement is from 30 to 2000 per cm2 and more preferably from 30 to 1500 per cm2 and even more preferably from 50 to 1000 per cm2.
The MSP reillfolce~l~ent is pl~relably a light basis weight. Basis weight is measured in grams per square meter (gpsm). This has a direct impact on the ease and ~o cost of shipping and handling of the MSP lehlfolce~ntc. A flexible MSP
leinfolcement with a basis weight of at most about 150 gpsm is preferred and a basis weight of at most 60 gpsm is more p~fell~ and a basis weight of at most 20 gpsm is even more preferred and a basis weight of at most 15 gpsm is most preferred. A
flexible MSP reinforcel.lent basis weight of at least 1 gpsm is preferred and a basis weight of at least 3 gpsm is more prefell~d and a basis weight of at least 6 gpsm is even more preferred. Based on current knowledge and trends, a flexible MSP
reinforcement with of basis weight from 60 to 3 gpsm is prefelled and a basis weight from 30 to 4 gpsm is more preferred and a basis weight from 25 to 5 gpsm is evenmore preferred and a basis weight from 20 to 6 gpsm is most plefelred. Based on calculations and experience, an inflexible MSP rei~lforcelllent can be made within these basis weight ranges. Higher basis weights are generally preferred for cellulosic type MSP reinforcemçntc. In FY~mple 5 below, the estim~ted basis weight is about600 gpsm.
Preferred MSP reinforoementc of this invention have fibers preferably with small fiber di~meters. The small fiber ~i;al~ete.~ improve plant root entanglement and penetration while at the same time îe~ cin~ the need for excess synthetic resin consumption. Nonwovens with small ~iian~eler fibers are particularly soft to the touch and easy on the hands when h~n(lling and dividing these plant multi-section packs.
Fiber diameter is measured in centim.o~rs and is determined by optical microscopy or sc~nnin~ electron microscopy. The delellllin~lion of fiber di~meter by these techniques is well known to those skilled in the art. MSP reinforcement fibers of at most about 0.02 cm in ~i~m~t~r are preferred and fibers of at most 0.006 cm in diameter are more preferred and are fibers of at most 0.004 cm in ~ meter are even more preferred and fibers of at most 0.002 cm in diameter are most preferred. MSP
reinforcements fibers of at least about 0.0002 cm in diameter are preferred and more preferably are fibers of at least 0.0003 cm in diameter and even more preferably are P~iv~lc S~i~l Numbo: M129~~ 1~ 35 fibers of at least 0.0005 cm in diameter. MSP reinforcement fibers are preferred to be from about 0.02 to 0.0002 cm in diameter and more preferably from 0.006 to 0.0002 cm in diameter and even more preferably from 0.004 to 0.0003 cm in diameter and most preferably from 0.002 to 0.0005 cm in diameter.
Synthetic resin fiber size is also often referred to in terms of fiber weight.
Fiber weight is measured in denier. Lower denier fibers have a softer feel to the customer of plant multi-section packs and thus are often preferred. The denier per fil~mçnt is by definition: "the mass in grams of a fiber 9,OOOm long". It can becalculated with the following formula:
,o -- Fiber Mass (g) Denier (dpf)= X 9,OOOm Fiber length (m) 15 The de~ ...inaLion of denier is generally well known to those skilled in the art. MSP
reinrorcementc comprised of fiber with a denier per fil~m~nt (dpf) of at most about 8 dpf are prefelled and more preferably are fibers with a denier per fil~ment of at most 6 and even more preferably are fibers with a denier per fil~mçnt of at most 3 dpf.
MSP reinrorce.--ent~ comprised of fibers with a denier per filament of at least 0.1 dpf 20 are also plt;felled and more preferably are fibers with a denier per fil~m~nt of at least 0.3 dpf and more preferably are fibers with a denier per fil~m~nt of at least 1 and more preferably are fibers with a denier per fil~mtont of at least 1.5 dpf. MSP
reinforcements comprised of fibers with a denier per fil~ment from 0.1 to 8 dpf are preferable and more preferable are MSP rei--rolcç...ent~ having fibers with a denier 25 per fil~ment from 1 to 8 dpf and even more preferable are MSP reinforcements having fibers with a denier per fil~mçnt from 1 to 6 dpf and most prerel~ble are MSP
reinforcements having fibers with a denier per fil~ment from 2 ~o 5 dpf.
As stated above, all plant multi-section packs of this invention have a plurality of planting sections. These planting sections are formed by separating the plant30 multi-section pack with living plants along the partition lines. The plant multi-section packs have bio-engineered fault lines to facilitate separation into smaller sections of viable plants. A dual mode of functioning of the MSP ,eillforce---ent is unique to the plant multi-section packs. During propagation and shipment, the MSP reinforces the plant multi-section pack. When the customer separates the plant multi-section pack, 35 the MSP reinforcement retains the plants in their respective planting section. The strength required for both purposes depends on the propagation conditions, plant Prin~c 5~1 Numb~: MIZ96C~ p~ 36 219403~

species, plant quantity, plant size, and type and amount of entanglement of the roots crossing the partition line. The strength needed of the MSP reinforcement also depends on the mode of sep~ion. One prefe.led mode of sep~ating the plant multi-section pack into planting sections is by hand division. Another p-erelled mode 5 of sepdlaling the plant multi-section pack into planting sections is to use a dull tool.
Illustrative examples of a dull tool include a common l~nt~sc~ping trowel or shovel.
Plant multi-section packs can be quickly and effectively sepa aled into smaller, pre-measured, regular planting sections using this method particularly with MSP
reinforcemtqntc having partition lines which are pelrolated. This helps to make the ,0 l~n~lsc~r)e job both lower cost, neater, and more prore~,sional. A sharp knife can also be used and even as the knife becomes dull with time it functions quite effectively particularly with MSP leillrolcements having partition lines that are pelru-~ted. This can save sharpening time on the l~n(ls~are job which makes the job quicker and lower cost.
Particular grab tensile strength ranges as measured by Test Method ASTM D-1682-64 for MSP reinroree~ ntc are helpful in developing effective plant multi-section packs. MSP reinforcem~ntc with a grab tensile strength of at most 150 Ibs are plerelled and MSP leinrolcelll~ntc with a grab tensile strength of at most 50 Ibs are more plerelled and MSP reinrolcelllp-ntc with a grab tensile strength of at most 25 Ibs ~o are even more preferred and MSP reillrolcç...entc with a grab tensile strengt'n of at most 15 Ibs are most preferred. MSP lt;il,forceme--~c with a grab tensile strength at least 1.5 Ibs are plerellt;d and MSP leinforce...entc with a grab tensile strength of at least 2 Ibs are more preferred and MSP ,c~ rorcel.~ntc with a grab tensile strength of at least 2.5 lbs are even more prerelled and MSP reinrorcementc with a grab tensile 25 strength of at least 3 lbs are most preferred. The individual plant species, propagation times and MSP reillrol.e...entc can be optimized using the tearhing,c and guidance of this specification. For general purpose applications, MSP leinrorce...entc with a grab tensile strength range from 150 to 1.5 lbs are preferred and MSP
reinforcen.entc with a grab tensile strength range from 50 to 2 Ibs are more preÇer,ed 30 and MSP reinrolcements with a grab tensile strength range from 25 to 2 Ibs are even more plerell~d and MSP reinrorcern~nts with a grab tensile strength range from 15 to 2.5 Ibs are most prerelred. For garden plant MSP reinrolce-llents, based on evaluations done after the filing of the parent application, MSP reinrorcell.en~s with a grab tensile strength from 150 to 1 Ib are effective and a grab tensile strength from 25 35 to 1 Ib are preferred and 15 to 1.5 Ib are even more p.erelled. Lower value grab Priv~ Sa;~l Numb~r. M1296CA p~. 37 tensile strength MSP leinforcements are particularly effective with plant multi-section packs which are divided with a tool such as a trowel.
The MSP leinîolcement, particularly in the planting section itself, is preferably generally stable through propagation and se~alalion of the plant multi-5 section pack into individual planting sections for many applications. A prerelledscreening test help to confirm stability for the MSP leinfolcelllent reinl;~rcing the plant multi-section packs is the soil burial test AATCC Test Method 30-1989 Test 1.
The prefelled soil is composed of 50% by volume of top soil or leaf mold, 5% by volume of well rotted and shredded cow manure, and 45 % by volume of coarse sand.
.0 The MSP reinforcel,.ent is exposed to the soil burial test. After a specified period of soil burial test exposure the MSP lcillrorce,llent is carefully removed and rinsed and allowed to dry out for 7 days at 23~ C. ASTM D 1117-80 is used to test the grab tensile strength of the exposed MSP reil~rolce.l.e~ll in a region widlout a partition line. The MSP leillçolce~ ntc are prefelled stable MSP reinforce~.~P~Ilc if they retain 15 at least 50% of their initial grab tensile strength after a soil burial exposure of 2 months and MSP leinrorce...~ntc are more prerelled stable MSP lelnrorcel..r~ if they retain at least 50% of their initial grab tensile strength after a soil burial exposure of 4 months and MSP reh~rolcen.entc are even more ~,lefelled stable MSPreinrorcelllents if they retain at least 50% of their initial grab tensile ~L~el,glll after a 2~, soil burial exposure of 6 months and MSP reinforcel..e..lc are most ~lerelled stable MSP reinforce...e..r~ if they retain at least 50% of their initial grab tensile strength - after a soil burial exposure of 9 months. More stable MSP reinforcem~ntc are more robust in use. MSP reinforcem~-ntc with shorter degradation periods are more garden friendly and can require some o~ina.~ e~pel;...e~ ion to oplillliLe the 3 25 (iimencional bio-engineered structure of plant multi-section packs. This test is included as helpful guidance to aid in predicting some MSP reinfolce~ nlc which can be both garden friendly and good ~SP reil~rce,l,ents. Other tests are discl.ssedherein. Those skilled in the art know that dirrt;,e,ll planting mediums and dirrerenl propagation conditions (for example moisture content and temperature) affect the30 degradation rate of the MSP reinforcelllelll grab tensile strength and use this information along with the teaching.c in ~his specification to develop l,lefelled plant multi-section packs for their customers. Further helpful and non-limiting guidance is found in patent US 5,344,370 which is included by reference. By using generally stable MSP reinforcements, the improved shelf-life stability and the ease of sepa.~ling 35 the plant multi-section pack into smaller planting sections is improved. By using the screening test for helpful guidance, effective plant multi-section packs can be easily Prinl~ 5~1 Numb~: M12XiCA Pl:. 38 219~035 developed using ordinary and limited experim~ont~tion. For some types of planting mediums, such as those which have large amounts of peat, the Peat Burial Degradation Test 2A is particularly useful.
Figure 3 is a simplified view of one embodiment of a MSP leillro.ce~llent of a 5 nonwoven fabric with a partition line having perforations. Refelence Numeral 42 is the MSP reinfol~;e,..ent Reference NumeMI 43a, 43b, 43c, and 43d are partition lines. MSP reinforce,.,ent~ having at least 2 partition lines which intersect are prefe,led and MSP reinforce.llents having at least 2 partition lines which hllel~e~;l at subst~nti~lly right angles are more prer~,cd and MSP Ichlrolcelnelll~ having at least ,o 2 partition lines which h~ c- l at right angles are even more preferred. Pclro,dlions in the partition lines,-by definition in this specification, are holes in the MSP
rei~rolccll,elll to &cilitate tearing the MSP reill~ol- c-lllent in a reproducible direction.
Reference Numeral 64 are the allelndling regions of cut reinforcelllent in the partition line. Allclllaling regions of cut Ichlr~ elllent in the partition line of at most 10 cm 15 long are prere"ed and allellldling cut regions of the lci~rolccn~el~t of at most 6 cm are more prefe red and allt;llldlhlg cut regions of the leinrorcelllent of at most 4 cm are even more plerelled and all~;ll.dling cut regions of the re~lrclcc-lllent of at most 3 cm are most prc;relled. Allelllaling regions of cut reh~rolcelllenl in the partition line of at least 0.05 cm long are plere"ed and alle",aling cut regions of the reillrorcelllent 20 of at least 0.1 cm are more prerelled and all~n~ing cut regions of the reinrorcement of at least 0.2 cm are even more prerelred and alternating cut regions of the einrorcement of at least 0.3 cm are most preferred. The cut width or kerf is preferably less than the cut length and preferably is from about 0 to 1 cm. Alternating regions of cut leillrolcelllent from 10 to 0.05 cm are preferred and allelllating regions 25 of cut leinro,cc-lllen~ from 6 to 0.5 cm are more plerelled and allelllating regions of cut reinforcement from 6 to 0.1 cm are even more plerelled and allelllatillg regions of cut ,eillrorcc,llenl from 4 to 0.1 cm are even more plerelled and alle(l,aling regions of cut reinforcement from 3 to 0.1 cm are most prefelled. Reference Numeral 66 are the allelndlillg regions of uncut reinrorcement in the partition line.
30 Allelllaling regions of uncut reinforcement in the partition line of at most 0.6 cm long are prefel~ed and allell-dli~g uncut regions of the le.llrolcelllenl of at most 0.3 cm are more plerelled and alternating uncut regions of the reinrorcelllent of at most 0.25 cm are even more prerelled and allelnâling uncut regions of the reinÇolcell.ent of at most 0.2 cm are most plefelled. Allelna~ g regions of uncut reinrolcelllenl in the partition 35 line of at least G.03 cm long are preferred and allellldlh-g uncut regions of the reinrorcelllent of at least 0.05 cm are more preferred and alternating uncut regions of P~v~: Sai-l Numb~: M1296C~ 39 21940~5 a ratio of the alternating cut regions to uncut regions in the partition line of at most 30/1 is even more prere,led and a ratio of the allelndling cut regions to uncut regions in the partition line of at most 25/1 is most preferred. Partition lines having perforations wherein the ratio of the allel,.aling cut regions to uncut regions in ~e partition line from 1/1 to 50/1 are p-~refled and partition lines having perforations wherein the ratio of the allel-la~ g cut regions to uncut regions in the partition line from l/1 to 40/1 are more preferred and partition lines having pelÇol~lions wherein the ratio of the allel,laLing cut regions to uncut regions in the partition line from 2/1 to 30/1 are even more prefelled. Methods to make partition lines in nonwovens are o well known to those skilled in the art. Illustrative examples include mech~nic~l and thermal cutting of nonwoven fibers in loc~li7~, linear regions. A sharp single edge ra_or blade carefully used can also form effective partition lines. Also many commercial nonwoven roll goods m~nllf~ c.~ can pelrolate nonwoven goods.
Another example of a partition line is a partition line having a thickness less than the average thickness of the MSP reinforcement. An e~ca---ple is an MSP
.ei.,forcement of a coherent porous sheet of peat having an average thickness of the MSP lc~inforcelllent of 0.21 cm and a partition line thickness of 0.07 cm. In this example, the ratio of the partition line ~hic~ne~ss to the average thickness of the MSP
reinforcement is 0.3. An MSP reil-rol-,e--,ent with a Mtio of the partition linethickness to the average thickness of the MSP reinforcement of at most 0.6 is prerel.ed and a ratio of the partition line thic~ness to the average thickness of the MSP reinforcement of at most 0.5 is more plefe,led and a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thic~n~.~ of the MSP reinforcement of at most 0.3 is even more plefelled and a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSP lehlforce.llcnl of at most 0.2 is most plefei,ed. An MSP leinfolcel"en with a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSPreinforcement of at least G.005 is plerelled and a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSP reinforcement of at least 0.01 is more preferred and a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSP
reinforcement of at least 0.03 is even more plerelled. An MSP reinfolce"-ent with a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSP reinrorce."ent from 0.005 to 0.6 is preferred and a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSP reinfolcement from 0.01 to 0.5 is more preferred and a ratio of the partition line thickness to the average thickness of the MSP .ehlrorce~ent from 0.02 to 0.3 is even more preferred. The partition line width is preferably from about 0 to 1 cm and more preferably from 0 to 0.5 cm and even more preferably from 0 to Priv~lc 5~1 Numb~r: M1296C~ K 41 21940~5 0.3 cm. Partition lines which are thinner than the average thickness of the MSP
reinforcement are preferred for relatively thick peat and paper MSP rein~olcenlents.
Partition lines which are thinner than the average thickness of the MSP reinforcement are particularly preferred for peat and paper MSP rehlrolcements at least about 0.1 5 cm thick. Example S included herein below is a represenlaLi~/e example.
FlG 4 is a simplified view of one embodiment of a plant MSP reinrorcement with a partition line having a line of degradable leinfolcelllent. Refcrence Numeral 42 is the MSP reinrorce.--~nt Reference Numeral 70 is a partition line of degradable material in the MSP reinforcem.ont This partition line has no synthetic nonwoven,o reinforcemçnt Reference Numeral 72 represents regions leinrolced with a synthetic nonwoven fabric such-as a nylon spunbond fabric. Reference Numeral 74 rel)reselll~
the lower layer of paper in the l~ in~e. As shown in Figure 4, the regions rehlrolced with a synthetic nonwoven fabric are sepaldled by a linear region (Reference Numeral 70) and thus in this cut away diagMm the lower layer of paper is 15 shown at this partition line. Reference Numeral 76 lepreserlls the upper layer of paper in the la~..;n~le. A repleselllali~e example can be made by l~...in~;ng rectangles of nylon nonwoven fabric belween newspaper and having partition linesconsisting of newspaper which degrades during propagation. Further helpful, general non-limiting guidance for l~...in~;ng reillrorcelllents is found in patent US 5,344,470 20 and is included by herein reference. Example S is another illu~Lrali~e example included herein. Artisan's skilled in the art can then modify l~ in~les accordhlg to the t~chingc and examples included herein using ordinal~ e~cpel;---ent~tion. After propagation, the planting sections can be separated because the wet, degraded newsl,aper is weak at the partition lines. In plant multi-section packs, the viable plant 25 roots, of course, reillrolce this partition until sepaldled by the user.
Another useful measure is the sag resistance as measured by the Sag Resistance Test - 4A as described herein below and also depicted in Figure S
contained herein. In the Sag Resistance Test - 4A, a test specimen is cut from the MSP reinrolcelllt:,ll having a length of 35 cm and a width of 25 cm. This test 30 specimen is ~up~lled at each length end by two blocks measuring 40 cm in length, said blocks spaced apart at a parallel distance of 25 cm. The blocks have a cross section of 7.5 cm by 7.5 cm. The amount of sag is measured in cç~.l;.netç.~ in the middle of the test specimen from a referellce plane e~ct~n~ing from the top of the blocks to the top of the test specimen and then the test specimen thickness (in 35 centimeters) is added to this. Figure 5 is an illustrative cross section view of the Sag Resistance Test - 4A. Reference Numeral 80 ~ep-esents the support blocks having a Privd~ Sai-l Numb~: Ml~6CA Vg a cross-section of 7.5 cm by 7.5 cm and a length of 40 cm. Said support blocks arespaced apart at a parallel ~ict~nce of 25 cm (Reference Numeral 83 represents this spaced apart dist~nce). Reference Numeral 84 represellLs the test specimen.
Reference 43 lepresenls several partition lines in the test specimen. Reference Numeral 86 represents a plane from the top of one block to the other block and is used as a refe.ence plane to measure the sag. Rt;rcrence Numeral 88 is the line mid way bc-lween the support blocks on the rerelence plane to measure sag. ReferenceNumeral 90 l~resell~ the measured d;~l~nce from Rererence Numeral 88 to the top of the test specimen Reference Numeral 82 replesenL~ the average thickness of the o test specimen directly below Rererencc Numeral 88. As an example calculation, if a cellulose based MSP reinforcement is SuppOl led by the two support blocks and the average ~ nce from the line midway belweell the support blocks (Reference Numeral 88) to the top of the specimen is 1.8 cm and the average thickness of the test specimen directly below the same line is 0.1 cm, then the sag as measured by the Sag Resict~nce Test - 4A is 1.9 cm. A MSP reinrorce~llent with a low measured sag isparticularly easy to handle and load into a nursery flat quickly, efficiently, and accurately. A MSP reinforcelllent which resists sag is prefelled. This reduces grower effort and cost. A MSP reh~r~,lcelllenl having a sag of at most 6 cm as measured by the Sag P~ecict~nce Test - 4A is plerelled and a sag of at most 4 cm as measured by the Sag Resist~nre Test - 4A is more plefell~d and a sag of at most 2.5 cm as measured by the Sag E~-s;~ e Test - 4A is even more plercllcd and a sag ofat most 1.5 cm as measured by the Sag Re~ re Test - 4A is most ~refel~ed. The prerelled ranges of sag depends on the particular target applications. General prerelled ranges follow. A MSP reil~fol~elnellt having a sag from O to 6 cm as measured by the Sag Resistance Test - 4A is ~lel~lled and a sag from O to 4 cm as llleasured by the Sag Resist~n~e Test- 4A is more plerelred and a sag from O to 2.5 cm as measured by the Sag Rçs;~ ce Test - 4A is even more preferred and a sag from O to 1.5 cm as measured by the Sag Re-c;~ ce Test - 4A is most preferred.
When a test specimen has dir~crelll results in different directions, such as a machine direction and a transverse direction, the lower sag number is used unless specifically stated olhel wise in the particular claim language. Reduced sag in the MSP
reinfolcc.llelll can make them easier and faster to handle and load, particularly in nursery containers. MSP reillrolcements comprised of cellulosic materials with low sag are particularly useful.
Preferred MSP leinfo.celllents have good water infiltration. Good water infiltration aids root wetting. MSP reinrorce...Pnt~ with hydrophilic treatments are Prinl~ S~ri~l Numb~: M 1 29ff~ 3 sometimes preferred. Wetting agents used in horticulture can also aid plant rootwetting.
A particularly plt;felled method to improve water infiltration is to use MSP
rei"folcements with apertures. Apertures can be design~-d into the manufacture of the 5 MSP reinforcement or added by post modification. Apellures are particularly useful for polyolefin and polyester MSP reinro,cemçntc. Apellules are a hole clear through the MSP reinrolce~llent which is at least 10 times larger than the average pore di~meter of the MSP reinforcement and are located in the planting section regions of the MSP reinrolcement and not in the partition line(s). The preferred apellules are at ,0 least 0.015 cm in (li~met~or and more preferably at least 0.02 cm in ~ meter and even more preferably at least 0.03 cm in diameter. The prerelled apertures are at most 0.8 cm in di~meter and more prefeldbly at most 0.4 cm in ~ met~r and even more preferably at most 0.25 cm in fli~,..eler and most preferably at most 0.15 cm.
Plefelled apellules are round, oval, diamond or rectangular shaped. The di~me~er is 15 defined as the maximum dist~nce across the aperture opening. Apellules preferably cover at most 15 % of the surface area of the nonwoven and more prerel~dbly cover at most 10% of the surface area of the nonwoven. Apertures normally cover at least 0.1% of the surface area of the nonwoven and more p~ere-dbly at least 0.3 % of the surface area of the nonwoven and even more prefeldbly at least 1% of the surface20 area of the nonwoven. A MSP ~inÇorcelllent having apell~es from 0.1 to 15% ofthe surface area of the MSP reillrolce--lel,l is plcÇ~lred and a MSP It;inro~e.llent having apellules from 0.3 to 10% of the surface area of the MSP leinforcell.ent is more p,efel,ed. Nonwovens with apellures in a repedtillg and ~Inirolll~ pattern are preferred for ease of m~m~f~ re. Apellures are preferably spaced within 2 cm of 25 each other and more prereldbly within 1 cm of each other. Nonwoven fabrics with apellules help to assure good water infiltration and uniform root wetting. Use of ape~res also improves the water infiltration in some of the lower cost nonwoven MSP leil1force.,.çnt~ such as those based on polyolefin çh~mistry. A method of manufacturing apertures in nonwovens is to use hot needlin~ where the nonwoven 30 fabric is passed under reciprocating needles or needles on rollers, the needles being heated to about the melting t~lllpel~ e of the nonwoven fabric. This and other technologies to produce apertures are well known in the art. Some illustrative examples include US 4886,632 to Van Iten et al., US 4,588,630 by Shim~ and US4,469,734 by Minto and are included by reference. Apertures in a nonwoven fabric35 form unique low resist~n~e passage ways for the root penetration and for water infiltration.

Prinl~ Sai~l Numb-r: M1296CA V~ ~4 219A0~5 Planting medium Planting mediums which include granular and / or small discrete particles are particularly ~lerelled. REDI-EARTH0, MSW, sand mixes, and soil are some non-5 limiting examples of these planting mediums to serve as helpful guidance for those ofoldin~y skill in the art. Planting medi~lms which comprise discrete particulate matter are particularly prefelled. Examples of preferred discrete particulate matter consists of peat, sand, perlite, vermiculite, composted organic matter, and soil. Planting mediums having one or more types discrete particulate matter selected from the group consi~ting of peat, perlite, velmi~ulite, sand, and composted organic matter arepreferred.
A layer of planting medium which is comprised of discrete particulate matter which is unconnec~ed to each other is prefelled. An example of a layer of planting medium including discrete particulate matter which is unconnecte~1 to each other is a 15 planting medium which can flow well from a hopper or common industry flat fillers.
An example of a plerelled layer of planting medium including discrete particulate matter which is unconnP,cted to each other is a loose planting me~ m llli~lure which has at least some loose peat. Peat has good air capacity, pore volume, and watercapacity and is thus often plefelled. Examples of plel~lled peat include peats 20 derived from sph~m-m peat moss, bryales mosses, sedges, and woody plants.
Sph~gnllm peat and sedge peats are more ~refellt;d types of peat. Sh~gnum peat moss is most plefelled for a planting medium. Sph~gnl-m peat has particularly useful air capacity and water capacity. A planting medium which is a ~ lule which is comprised of peat is preferred and a I~ lure comprised of sph~grn~m peat is more25 preferred. Another particularly plefelled example of discrete particulate matter is composted organic matter. Examples of composted organic matter include yard waste and MSW. Planting mediums colllpliscd of discrete particulate matter are low cost, widely available from many m~n~lf~clurel~ such as refelenced herein. Multiple commercial planting mediums having discrete particulate matter which is unconnected 30 to each other are optimized and readily available for many dirrere,lt plants and growing situations and from multiple co---p~lies. Example manufaclu-el~ include Sun Gro Horticulture in Bellevue, WA, Hyde Park Products, Inc., and Michigan Peat Co. in Houston, TX. In addition, I-~i~lures of discrete particulate matter customized to the individual plant species and grower's needs are often custom blended at the ;5 nursery. This often reduces costs, reduces inventory, increases general versatility, Privnc S~i~l Numb~: M1296C~ P8. 45 and increase the quality of the plants. Planting mediums con~ining some loose peat are particularly prefelred for this purpose.
In a preÇe~led embodiment, the planting medium contacts the MSP
reinforcement In a pr~rer-ed embodiment, the planting medium is ~-n~tt~ched to the 5 MSP rehlforcelnent. In a plefelled embodiment, the planting medium is unconstrained by the MSP reinforcement. In particularly prerelled embodim~nts the planting medium is dirrerelll from the MSP r~inrorce...~n~ In the plerellt;d embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the planting medium contacts the MSP
reinforcement In the prerelled embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the planting~o medium is un~t~rhed to the MSP lehlrolce-~..çn~ In the prerelled embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the planting medium is unconsll~ined by the MSP
reinforcement. A preferred example of a planting me~ium dirrerenl from the MSP
reinforcement is a planting medium with a dirrerelll ch~-mi~ry than the MSP
reinforcemçn~ An illustrative example of a planting me(li~lm with a dirrerenl 15 chemistry than the MSP leinrolcement is a planting medium of discr~e peat particulates and a MSP reinrorcelllent of polypropylene fibers. Another plefenedexample of a planting medium dirrerenl from the MSP lelnrolcelllent is a planting medillm with a dirrere~ physical pro~ellies than the planting "~ J..~. As an illustrative example of dirrerenl physical plopellies, the planting me(lium can be a 2~ loose, unconnec~ed particulate matter and the MSP reinrorcelllenl can be a bound, coherent sheet of particulate matter. The loose, unconnpctet~ particulate matter has no tensile strength as a coherent sheet while the bound, coherent sheet of particulate matter has a measurable tensile strength. The tensile strength illustration above is an example of a prefellc;d dirrelelll physical propelly. ln another example, the planting 25 medium can be a loose discrete particulate matter and the MSP l~inforcell-ent can be a bound particulate matter and thus the planting medium is dirrerenl from the MSP
reinforcement. Another illustrati~e example of planting meAium~ dirrelenl from the MSP reinrolcement include a plant multi-section pack having loose discrete particulate matter for the planting medium and a nonwoven for the MSP
30 reinforcement. Another illustrative example of planting mediums dirrerelll from the MSP reinforcement include a plant multi-section pack having a loose peat/perlitemixture for the planting medium and a coherent porous sheet of colllpre~sed peat for the coherent reinro~ement . In the preferred embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the planting medium has a uniform depth across the MSP reinforcement. A
35 preferred planting medium of discrete particulate matter is comprised of a mixture including peat, perlite, and vermiculite. A preferred planting medium of discrete Pri~e S~i t N~lmb~: Mt296C~

21~403~

particulate matter is comprised of a mixture including peat and perlite. Planting mediums having loose discrete particulate matter which are ~In~tt~ched, unconstrained, and different from the MSP leinrorcement are more easily optimized for the particular plant species and individual grower capabilities.
Composted organic matter is particularly useful as a planting medium or used in a ~ urt; of planting medium because of their general low cost and light weight.
Composted organic matter is defined in this specification as a mixture having decayed organic matter suitable for growing plants. Illustrative examples of composted organic matter include matter derived from yard waste, food waste, animal waste,o and forest waste. A planting medillm which is a ~ ure comprised of at least some composted organic matter is plert;lled. A planting medium comprised of a mixtureof from 40 to 100% composted organic material is more preferred. The use of composted organic matter is both cost effective and a good growth .l.~li~

Plants As the plants grow, the bio-çngineered unique 3 dimensional structure with root reinfolced fault lines of the plant multi-section pack develops. Plants which have multiple roots in the upper root portion are particularly effective for bio-çngineering this new structure. Multiple roots in the upper root portion are formed from secondary root growth and / or fibrous root growth. Multiple roots crossing the partition line in the planting medium are particularly effective in reinforcing the MSP
reinforcement across the partition lines and binding the planting medium to the MSP
reinforcernent In this specification, a plant with multiple roots in the upper root portion is defined as a plant which has multiple roots, multiple fibrous roots, or multiple branched roots in the layer of planting medium. Multiple roots of the upper root portion are defined in this specification as all of the roots in the layer of planting medium above the MSP reinforcement of plants which have secondary roots, multiple fibrous roots, or the small multiple root branches growing in the layer of planting medium. Multiple roots of the upper root portion crossing the partition line areReference Numeral 58 in Figure 2. An illustrative example of a plant with multiple roots in the upper root portion is cosmos bipillndlus. A plant with only 1 root,perhaps a tap root, is an example of plant without multiple roots in the upper root portion.
Plant multi-section packs with viable plants having at least 15% plants with multiple roots in the upper root portion are preferred and plant multi-section packs having at least 25% plants with multiple roots in the upper root portion are more Pri~e Seri~l Numb~: M1296CA P <7 219~0~5 preferred and plant multi-section packs having at least 35% plants with multiple roots in the upper root portion are even more plerel-ed and plant multi-section packs having at least 50% plants with multiple roots in the upper root portion are most prefelled. Plant multi-section pack~s having 1009~ plants with multiple roots in the 5 upper root portion are very effective. These plant multi-section packs are particu1arly useful because they develop improved h~ndling characteristics. The plants with multiple roots bind the planting medium particularly well.
As (liccll~ced above, it is prerelable to have good early plant root l)enelr~lion through the MSP reinforcement to facilitate propagation of plant multi-section packs o with earlier harvest times and good h~ndling characteristics. More ~)lere-led is root penetration and entanglement with the MSP leil~rorcell,e-ll to support binding of the respective plants to their individual plant multi-section pack planting sections so that when the plant multi-section pack planting sections are sepa,~ted the plants remain with their respective planting sections. In addition, this root penetration also helps to 15 bind the plant multi-section packs into a three (~im~nsional bio-çn~inee~ed structure which can later be sel,alaled into smaller individual sections of three dimen~ional bio-engineered structures. An effective way to e~l;...<.le and provide guidance for this reillfolcement due to the roots which penellale the MSP leinrolcellle-ll is to monitor and control root penetration through the MSP reinforcement. Root penetration is 20 ~neasured by the following process:

1). A replesenlalive section of plant multi-section pack is chosen for m~urelllent - usually about 20 centime~ers by 20 cellli-llcters.

2). The roots penetrating through the bottom of the MSP reinrorcell-ent (Reference Numeral 42) are carefully shaved off with a sharp instrument such as â single edge razor and careful1y added to a clean 2 iiter beaker.

3). The shaved roots are then carefu11y washed with MSP water by mixing and screening out the shaved roots and placing them in a sep~le clean 2 liter beaker.

4). Steps 2) and 3) are repeated four times (or until the roots are visually clean) to remove the dirt and nonroot foreign matter. The c1ean washed roots are then transferred to a pre-weighed lightweight ahlminl-m weighing dish.

Priv~ M1296CA

21g403~

5). The washed roots in the pre-weighed dish are then dried for 8 hours at 110 degrees centigrade in a ventil~ted, lel.lpe-~luie controlled oven.

6). The root penetration is then calçul~ted as follows (20 cm by 20 cm plant multi-section pack):

Gross weight (dried roots plus dish) 5.68g Tare weight of alu.. i.. ~.. dish 5.54g ,o 0.14g per 400 cm2 of plant -- multi-section pack A root penellalion through most MSP r~inrol~;elnen~ of at least about 0.07 grams per 400 square centimeters of plant multi-section pack are prerelled and more plerelable 15 are root penetrations of at least 0.1 grams per 400 square centimeters of plant multi-section pack and even more pl~felable are root penetrations of at least 0.2 grams per 400 square centimeters of plant multi-section pack. For thicker MSP reinforcements such as a MSP reinrolcement of a coherent porous sheet of degradable peat, the root penetration can be considerably less beca.lse the roots become bound to the thick 20 MSP reinforce.,.ent To promote early harvest and easier separation, plant multi-section packs with root penetration of at mos~ about 20 grams per 400 square centimet~rs of a plant multi-section pack are preferred and more prefeMble are plant multi-section packs with at most 15 gMms per 400 square centimeters of plant multi-section pack. Thicker MSP leinrorce ~ ; can have lower plerelled root penetration 25 per 400 square c~ ;lllelels of multi-section pack because root entanglement within the MSP reinforcement is generally enh~ ed for thicker MSP reinforcements. An illustrative example is 0.1 to 0.2 cm thick MSP lehlrorcements comprised of a coherent sheet of peat.
As discussed herein above, prtrellcd plant multi-section packs have viable 30 plants with an upper root portion having multiple roots and a lower root portion which penetrates the MSP reinrolce...e..1 The prerelled amount of root penetration through the MSP reillrorcelllent was also ~liscussed herein above. Plant multi-section packs of this invention with a weight ratio of the upper root portion to the lower root portion which penetrates the MSP reinrorcement of at least 1/1 is preferred and a 35 weight ratio of at least 2/1 i3 more plt;rhled and are very effective. Plant multi-section packs wherein the upper root portion has multiple roots are even more Priv~ S~ri-l Numb~r: M1296CA p~ ~,9 preferred as diccussed herein above. Plant multi-section packs of this invention with a weight ratio of the upper root portion having multiple roots to the lower root portion which penetrates the MSP lehlrolcement of at least 1/1 are ~,lere-led and a weight ratio of at least 1.5/1 is more prerelled and a weight ratio of at least 2/1 is even more 5 prefelled. This weight ratio is determined for a leplesen~ /e section of a plant multi-section pack with an area of 500 square centimeters. The weight of the lower root portion which penetrates the MSP r~;nfolcelllent is determined using the procedure above for the represen(dli~e sample of plant multi-section pack. The weight of the multiple roots of the upper root portion is determined using a similar procedure. For particularly difficult mazes of plant roots and planting mediums,çstim~tions often can delell,liQe the proper Mnge of the weight ratio. This range is usually sufficient to guide in propagation of these new 3 ~imensional plant multi-section packs. As an example calculation, if the multiple roots of the upper root portion weigh 0.5 grams and the lower root portion which penetMtes the MSP
15 lt~ rorce~llellt iS 0.25 grams, then the weight ratio of the multiple roots of the upper root portion to the lower root portion which penellales the MSP reinro~ elllent is 2/1.
Higher weight ratios help to improve the pelrol.llance of the plant multi-section pack.
This is particularly important for a plant multi-section pack having a MSP
- reinro~celllent with perfoMted partition lines and where the ratio of the cut regions to 20 the uncut regions is high.
Plant multi-section packs of this invention have many uses. Plant multi-section packs of ol.~.n~ l grasses, flowers, and herbs are particularly prerelled and useful.

25 Summary - MSP rehlrorcell'ent A ~hSP ~hlrolcelllent is a coherent porous sheet of reinforcelllelll with at least one partition line for use in a plant multi-section pack of this invention. The multi-section pack has living plants with roots in a layer of planting medium. Roots of the living plants can penetrate the coherent porous sheet of lehlro-cel''ent.
One embodiment of the invention is a reinforcement for use in a plant multi-section pack colllplishlg a coherent porous sheet of leinrorcenlellt having at least one partition line and said plant multi-section pack contains living plants. The plants have roots and preferably some roots cross the partition line. In one embodiment the - porous sheet is prerelably inflexible. In another preferred embodiment the porous sheet is flexible. The porous sheet prererably has a plurality of partition lines.

Priv~ S~i-l N~ M1296CA PS- ~~

Another embodiment of the invention is a reinfor~ell-ent for use in a plant multi-section pack col-,prising a coherent nonwoven sheet having at least one partition line and said plant multi-section pack col-l~ins living plants. The plants have roots and plerel~bly some roots cross the partition line. A prefeil~d nonwoven sheet is comprised of polyolefin fibers. Nonwoven sheets com~" ising a spunbond sheet arealso prere.led.
A plefe,led MSP reinfolcement is a coherent porous sheet of degradable material with at least one partition line for use in a plant multi-section pack of this invention. The multi-section pack has living plants with roots in a layer of planting medium. Roots of the living plants can penetrate the coherent porous sheet of einforcç...ent A particularly prere"ed MSP reinforcelllenl is coherent porous sheet of peat with at least one partition line for use in a plant multi-section pack having roots crossing the partition line.
Other particularly p~felled embo~imentc of the MSP ,t;infolcell~ellt are diccusse~ in this specification elsewhere.

Process Description The general process of growillg a plant multi-section pack accolding to this invention is now described. Nursery corl ~;ne~s can be used err~lively as the growing surface. Flats are a common example of a nursery container. Flat size is selected based on normal consideMtions of one of ordinaly skill in the art such as preferred size by end-use customer, optimum depth of the planting medium for the target plant species, availability, and cost. A flat with drain holes is normally preferred. A flat which is 16 to 24 inches long, 8 to 12 inches wide, and 0.8 to 4 inches deep is particularly plc;re,,ed because of availability and cost. The flats similar to the standard 1020 nursery flats are particularly prefe"ed. The bottom of the flat usually serves as Reference Numeral 40 - the plant multi-section pack growing surface orsupport surface. Alternately a field grown process can be used as ~i~cu~ed further herein. Preferred general steps for propag~ting plant multi-section packs are: (1) prepcuing a plant multi-section pack support surface or growing surface. This includes selecting and getting the flats ready for use as discussed above. (2) placing MSP
,~inforce",ent having partition lines (Reference Numeral 42) in contact with themulti-section pack growing surface. More preferred is placing the MSP ,ei,lforcelllent on top of multi-section pack growing surface. (3) forming a layer of planting medium in contact with the MSP ,einrorcement. More preferred is forming a layer of Pri~e Scri~l Numb~: Ml296C~ PS 51 219~03~

planting medium on the MSP reinfo,ce~ The depth of the layer of planting medium is selected based on the prefel.ed planting depth for the selected plants and needs of the grower and customers. Planting medium amen~mentc can also be added such as slow release fertilizers, super absoll~ellls, wood chips, vermiculite and the like. Drenching can also be useful at times. (4) placing viable plant starting material in contact with planting medium. The see~lling.c, rooted cuttin~.C, and the like can be added to the planting medium and / or the planting medium can be seeded. (5) nourishing viable plants for root growth forming an upper root portion and lower root portion. Nowislling includes normal care of the plants including such items as watering, drçn~hing, appropliale light level control, planting medillm qmt~ndment~, fertilizers, and micro-nutrients. (6) propqg~qting upper root portion to bind the planting medium. (7) propag,qting lower root portion to penelLale said plant MSPreinrorcem~nt More preferred is propag,qtin~ lower root portion to peçle~l~te and entangle with said MSP leinroLcement Some prert;lled improvements to the above method of propagation follow.
The plant multi-section packs are propq.~qtçd plerelably until the roots of the lower root portion penetrate the MSP reinrol~e.,lent with at least 0.07 grams of root penetration per 400 square centimeters of plant multi-section pack are preferred. The plant multi-section packs are propagated until the roots pene~ale the MSP
~;nfolcell'h~l at least about 0.1 grams per 400 square centimeters of plant multi-section pack are more prerell~d. This root penetration aids in good root entanglement with the MSP leinrorcelllelll in order to leinro-ce the partition lines and also bind the individual plants to the individual planting sertions~ The plant multi-section packs are propagated for 1-18 months and more plerel.lbly for 1 to 6 months and even more preferably for 1 to 4 months. Steps (3) and (4) can be modified byadding the plant starting material (for instance, seeds) to the planting medium and then forming a layer of planeing medium in contact with the MSP reinforcç...ent Propq.~ating roots of the upper root portion to cross a partition line is prerelled~
Propag,qting roots of the lower root portion to cross a partition line is prerelled.
Propq~,qting roots of the upper root portion and lower root portion so they both cross a partition line is more preferred. Prop~ating a plurality of plants in the planting sections of the plant multi-section pack is plerelled. Propqg~ting 4 or more plants in the planting sections of the plant multi-section pack is more preferred. Propqg~ting plant multi-section packs of this invention in order to develop a weight ratio of the upper root portion having multiple roots to the lower root portion which penetrates the MSP reinforcement of at least 1/1 is preferred. Propag~tin~ plant multi-section Pri~e S~ l Numb~: M1296CA ~. 52 packs of this invention in order to develop a weight ratio of at least 1.5/l is more preÇelled. Propa~ting plant multi-section packs of this invention in order to develop a weight ratio of at least 2/1 is even more ~refelled.
Another embodiment of propa~1in~ plant multi-section packs of this invention is field propagation. This can eliminate green house heating costs and can also ~limin~te the need for 1020 flats. A typical field process is now described. Preferred general steps are~ ep~hlg multi-section pack support surface or growing 5 surface. A field bed can be used as an effective support surface. Examples include tilling the soil, removing any maior weeds left, and grading and smoothing out. Lay down a a multi-section growing surface such as 6 mil black polyethylene film.
Common herbicides can be used to further reduce weeds. Rows are adjusted to the customer needs. A 0.7-8 foot wide by 10~200 feet long rows are erre ;live. Other10 sizes can be used depending on available space and customer and grower needs.Aisles generally 3 feet wide are usually left between the rows for easy access.
Common geotextiles can be used between the rows to reduce weeds. Herbicides can also be used as desired to reduce weeds. (2) placing the MSP ~einfor~ell,ellt in contact with the gloWing surface. More plef~.lcd is placing the MSP lehlforce.lle,ll on top of 5 the growing surface. Optionally in~lling appropliate bed edging. An illustrative example is inct~llin~ railing such as 4" by 4" rot resi~nl treated lumber on the edges of the beds to contain the planting ~ d;ulll. Optionally, 1" by 2" rot l~sis~l lumber can also be used to further subdivide the bed into smaller individual plots. (3)forming a layer of planting meAillm in contact with the MSP reinçolce~ nt This 20 normally includes selecting the pr~re.l~d planting depth for the selected plants and adding the planting m~Aium ~efe~ d planting medium ~m~n~mentc can also be added here. Dren~hing can also be useful at times. (4) adding the viable plant starting materials to the p1~nting ",f'A''...,. (S) nouli~lPing plant material for root growth forming an upper root portion and lower root portion. Nourishing includes25 normal care of the plants including such items as watering, dr~-n~hing, applol3riate light level control, planting medium ~nn~n-lmentc, fertilizers, and micro-nutrients.
(6) propag~ting upper root portion to bind the planting medium. (7) prop~g~ g lower root portion to ~enetl~te with said plant MSP leinîorce-,-ent. ~lopa~ g lower root portion to ~)enell~t~ and entangle with said MSP reinfor~elllelll is more 30 preferred. If desired for environment~l control reasons, common crop covers may be used to help warm the planting medium in the spring or for some protection from marauding birds. Hay or crop covers may be used to help to over winter the plantmulti-section packs. A similar fièld process is described in further detail United Prinl~ S~ri~l Numb~: M129~~ Vg. 53 States patent 5,346,514 issued to Molnar et. al. and patent 5,344,470 issued to Molnar et. al. for helpful guidance and modification by those skilled in the art and are included herein by reference. Field grown plant multi-section packs mature in 1-18 months.
Other plerel.ed embo-lim~ntc and modifications are (liscucsed within this specification.
Propagation of plant multi-section packs creates the unique bio-enginePred 3 ~3imen.cional sllu-;lure with &ult lines which make these new multi-section packs so versatile and unique in use. Using the tea~hing~ and guidance provided in this specification, many erreclive plant multi-section packs can be grown. The propag~ion process can be modified by those skilled in the art using oldinaly experimentation and the tç~ching.c and guidance in this specification.

Method of Use Plant multi section packs offer the l~ntlsç~e industry a new and highly versatile method of using plants in l~n-lscAl-ing. By the very nature of the MSPlehlfol~;eme!lt in the plant multi-section pack, all plant multi-section packs can be ,0 quickly and effectively custom sized to fit the nature of the particular l~n(~sc~re inst~ tion. By way of example, when looking at the MSP ~eihlrorce~llent shown inFigure 3, there are four partition lines with Reference Numerals 43a to 43d and eight individual planting sections with Reference NumeMls 68a through 68h. It is apparenl that if one were to divide this plant multi-section pack along the partition Reference Numeral 43a, that two long narrow planting shapes would result co~ ining planting sections 68a through 68d and sections 68e to 68h. The roots crossing partition lines 43b, 43c and 43d would not be sep~aled or broken and the two plailling shapes could be put directly in the landscape. Alternately, a particular l~n~s~are application can easily be served with eight planting sections by dividing the plant multi-section pack at all four partition lines forming eight sepalate, rectangular planting sections to space out individually in a l~ndsc~pe. The MSP reinforcelllent can be planted with theindividual planting sections since the roots easily grow through the MSP
reinforcement and this çlimin~tes clean up. It will be apparelll to those skilled in the art that the above eight section plant multi-section pack is susceL~lible to numerous variations in division at the landscape site to meet the particular planting shape needs of the customer. Some planting shape examples follow below:

Priv~ Se~i~l Numb~: M1296C~ P 54 Planting sections left intact Planting shape 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d Very long, narrow rectangle 68a, 68b. 68c Long, narrow rectangle 68a, 68b Long, narrow rectangle 68a, 68b, 68e, 68f Large square 68a Small square 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68e Very long "L" shape A planting shape is the shape which results from one or more contiguous plantingsections as shown above. Those skilled in the art will recognize numerous other 5 planting sections with rectangular planting shapes in this eight section plant multi-section pack including using the eight section plant multi-section pack as is and not separated in particular areas requiring high show. This is possible since the depth of the planting medium is p,erelably ulurolm across the eight section plant multi-section pack. Uniform planting medium depths are depicted in Figures 1 and 2. Those l0 skilled in the art recognize that the customer can choose from many planting shapes by sep~ g some partition lines and not others. Planting sections which are sub~ lly rectangular are prerelled. Planting sections having a ratio of the length of the planting section to the width of the planting section of from 3/1 to 1/1 are pleÇt;lled and a ratio of length of the planting section to the width of the planting 15 section of from 2/1 to 1/1 are more preferred. With the known multi-cell packinserts, the flats are broken up into a fixed number of cells based on the specific multi-cell pack insert (for example, D801 ~liccussed herein above). If different sizes of cells are needed, different multi-cell pack inserts must be ordered, inventoried, and carefully counted out for the particular inct~ tion site. Thus no multi-cell packs sold .,~ .. .
in the industry have the on site versatility combined with ease of subdivision of plant multi-section packs of the instant invention. Furthermore, it is recognized that the plant multi-section packs have a new bio-engineered 3 (~imencional structure which functions in a new and different way to produce a new and useful result. The "flower pot effect" is reduced or elimin~te~
One method of using a plant multi-section pack according to this invention follows. (1) holding plant multi-section pack having a MSP lehlrolcement with partition lines. (2) sepa,~ing said plant multi-section pack along one or more partition lines in order to form two or more planting sections. (3) planting said planting sections.

PlivUe Ser;~l Number: M1296C~ P~ 55 21940~5 Plant multi-section packs are preferably sepal~ted into a plurality of planting sections. One preferred method of separation is sepa,~ling said plant multi-sectio packs by hand. Separating said plant multi-section pack along one or more said partition lines in order to form new planting shàpes is a preferred method of use.
Separating said plant multi-section pack along a partition line wherein the sepal~ting of said multi-section pack along said partition line causes roots which cross said partition line to be separated is a more plefe,red method of use. One preferred method of sepal~ling plant roots crossing the partition line is by breaking said roots.
Another prere,l~d method of sepaldLing plant roots cr~ssing the partition line is by ,0 e~l a~ling said roots ~ubs~lially intact from the neighboring planting section.
Another prere~lt;d method of sepa,dting plant roots crossing the partition line is by cutting said roots. In actual field inct~ tions, co,nbinalions of these preÇel,ed methods of sepalaling the plant roots c,ossing the partition line are often prer~"ed.
Sep~aling said plant multi-section pack along one or more said partition line and wherein the sepal~ling up of said pack along said partition lines causes roots to be sepal~led and roughed up is a more prefel,~d method of use Sepa~aling said plantmulti-section pack along one or more said partition lines in order to form planting shapes having a plurality of plants is a prtre"cd method of use. Sep~a~ g said plant multi-section pack along one or more said partition lines in order to form planting sections having a plurality of plants is a prefe"~d metnod of use. Sepd~ling said plant multi-section pack along one or more said partition lines in order to formplanting sections having at least 4 plants is more prefelled. Sepal~ting said plant multi-section pack along one or more said partition lines in order to form planting shapes having at least 5 plants is even more plefelled.
Plant multi-section packs are versatile and easy to use. No other multi-cell packs in the industry are as versatile. Using the MSP reinforc~ll,ents and preferred embo limPntc, and the teaçhing.c and guidance provided in this specification, many new effective plant multi-section packs can be grown and new end-uses developed using the te~ching.c and guidance of the specification.
Z5 While some of the preferred embodimentc of the instant invention have been ~iiscllssed~ it is understood that the invention is not limited to these, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as are known to those of oldinaly skill in the art using oldinaly experiment~ion. One of ordina,y skill in the art can use the embodimentc of this instant invention with ordin~y experimentation to develop prerelled plant multi-section packs with many coherent porous sheets of reinforcements having partition lines. It is âlsO to be understood that the plant roots Priv~le Se~l Numb~: M1296C~ p~. 56 penetrate the MSP reinforcement and also entangle with themselves and the MSP
reinforcement and this plays an important preferred roll in the good plant multi-section packs h~ndling, propagation characteristics, h:~n~ling characteristics, and separation characteristics, and propagation characteristics. Using the teachingc and 5 guidance of this specification, plant multi-section packs of many living plants can be effectively grown and used.
It is also to be understood that the unique bio-engineered 3 dim~ncion~l structure of plant multi-section packs having therein bio-~n~inp~red fault lines to facilitate division into smaller planting sections, their method of prop~tion, and o their method of use are susceptible to numerous variations and pel-l-u~lions using o-d~na~y experim~nt~tion by those skilled in the art. Artisans skilled in the art know that generally, larger plants usually use larger planting sectionc and smaller plants such as grasses often use smaller planting sections. Plant multi-section packs can be used with many dirÇe.enl species of plants such as grasses, bedding plants, flowers 15 and vegetables. Using the guidance and tea~hingc of this specific~tion along with ordillaly experim~nt~tion, those of ordinary skill in the art can develop and grow plant multi-section packs which can be easily, effectively and reproducibly haveplanting shapes adjusted in size and shape by the customer to most effectively add color or texture to a particular garden or l~n~sc~pe. Plant multi-section packs can also 20 be optimized to ~ i,e synthetic resin con.~l."l.lion, labor, and waste at the job site. Plant multi-section packs can also be refined for di~Çelel-t methods of sep~ation and different l~n~lsc~ping needs using ordinal y experiment~tion and the te~chin~c and guidance of this specification.

EXAMPLES

The following examples will further aid and help to guide those of oldin~
skill in the art to practice the invention. Although the examples below are carried out with MSP reinforcements of a polypropylene nonwoven, nylon nonwoven, polyester 30 nonwoven, and a porous peat/paper composite structure, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that other coherent porous sheets of reillrorce..-ent can be used.

Typical properties of nonwoven fabrics useful for MSP lehlro-celllents are 35 given below in the following Table 2. Examples using some of these nonwovens are to help to further explain the invention and for helpful guidance.

Priv~lc S~i~l Number: M1296CA pg. 57 21940~

Table 2 Typical properties of nonwoven fabrics useful for MSP Reinforcements aregiven below. The following test results are done in regions without partition lines.

Grab Trap FabricTensile Strength Tear Strength Weight (md) (td) (md) (td) - Product (opsy) (lb) (lb) (lb) (lb) ,o ACCORD0 108 0.8 10.1 13.2 2.2 3.4 PBN Il~ 0.3 6.0 4.0 2.9 1.8 CEREX~ 0.4 12 7 5.5 3.4 REEMAYX 0.55 12 11 4.0 4.5 REEMAYX 0.6 10 8 4 5 where:

md = ma~hine direction td = transverse direction OpSy = ounces per square yard Ib = pound Grab Tensile Strength: Test Method ASTM D-1682-64 Trap Tear Strength: Test Method ASTM D-1117-80 Air Permeability: Test Method ASTM D-737-75 at 0.5 inch of water PBN II~ is nylon spunbond fabric m~nl~façblred by Fiberweb, North America, Inc.

CEREX~ is a nylon spunbond fabric manufactured by Cerex Advanced Fabrics, LP in Cantonment, FL

REEMAY0 is polyester spunbond fabric manufactured by Reemay, Inc.

Example 1 Using the plant multi-section pack propagation technique of Pigure 5, to a standard 1020 nursery flat is added a MSP reinforcement consisting of ACCORD~

Printe S~i-l Numb~: M129~~ p~. 58 108 with two partition lines at right angles to each other; one in the center of the length and one in the center of the width. In the partition lines, the ratio of the cut nonwoven fiber regions to the uncut fiber regions is 12/1. A 2.5 cm layer of MSW is placed on top of the MSP reinforcement. To this flat is added about 2 grams per square foot of Jonathan Green's Northeast Wildflower Mixture 12383 which contains bachelor's buttons, baby's breadth, wallflower, blue flax, ox-eye daisy, lance-leaved coreopsis, California poppy, evening primrose, catchfly, black-eyed Susan, prairie coneflower, plains coreopsis, and Missouri primrose. Jonathan Green is located in Farmingdale, NJ. The plant multi-section pack is watered and llul lu~d for 2 months.
The plant multi-section pack with live viable plants is removed from the flat.
The plant multi-section pack is easily separated along the pre-measured partition line using a dull trowel. Two ~ub~l~n~;~lly uni~llll mid size planting shapes result. One of these mid size pl~nting shapes is sepalaled at the re~"~ ing pre-lllc~uled partition line by hand and two ~ubs~nli~lly uniform planting sections results. The le.ll~ ing mid size planting shape is quickly sepdlaled at the rel"~i~-ing pre-lll~asuled partition line using a dull knife and two subsl; .~ lly uniform planting sections result. The four subst~nti~lly ul iro~.n, rectangular planting sections resulting from this plant multi-section pack are planted and four healthy groups of plants result.

Example 2 Using the plant multi-section pack propagation technique of Figure 5, to a standard 1020 nursery flat is added a MSP reinrorcement conci~ting of REEMAY~
0.6 opsy with two partition lines at right angles to each other; one in the center of the length and one in the center of the width. In the partition lines, the ratio of the cut nonwoven fiber regions to the uncut fiber regions is 12/1. A 2.5 cm layer of MSW is placed on top of the MSP reh~rolcemçnt To this flat is added about 2 grams per square foot of Jonathan Green's Northeast Wildflower Mixture 12383 which co.l~ains bachelor's buttons, baby's breadth, wallflower, blue flax, ox-eye daisy, lance-leaved coreopsis, California poppy, evening pl il.lrose, catchfly, black-eyed Susan, prairie coneflower, plains coreopsis, and Missouri primrose. Jonathan Green is located in Farmingdale, NJ. The plant multi-section pack is watered and nurtured for 2 months.
The plant multi-section pack with live viable plants is removed from the flat.
The plant multi-section pack is separated along the pre-l-.ca~ured partition lines and four substantially uniform rectangular planting sections result. The r~sl-lting planting sections from the plant multi-section pack are planted and four healthy groups of plants result.

Pri~uc Seriul Numb~: M1296CA 1>~ 59 Comparative Example 3 Using the plant propagation technique of Figure 5, to a standard 1020 nursery flat is added a sheet of ACCORD~ 108 without any partition lines. A 2.5 cm layer5 of MSW is placed on top of the sod reinforcernent To this flat is added about 2 grams per square foot of Jonathan Green's Northeast Wildflower Mixture 12383 which contains bachelor's buttons, baby's breadth, wallflower, blue flax, ox-eyedaisy, lance-leaved coreopsis, California poppy, evening primrose, catchfly, black-eyed Susan, prairie coneflower, plains coreopsis, and Missouri primrose. Jon~th~n Green is located in Farmingdale, NJ. The plant flat is watered and nurtured for 2 months.
The resulting sod mat Ieinfo,ced with ACCORD0 108 with live viable plants and plant roots is lifted from the flat. The resultin~ sod reinforcement was notsuccessfully separated into subst~ti~lly ~mifo~ sections using the same dull trowel 15 of Example 1, or the same dull knife used in Example 1, or by hand. Further efforts caused uncightly and non uniform tears in the sod rei--rolce...ç.-t A highly skilled, careful work force may be able to ...h.i..~i,e some these tears but the need for this skilled, careful work force then would increase time and costs of a l~n-lsc~l)e in~t~ tion. Further more, in COlltla;~l to the above Example 1, no pre-measured 20 guidelines are available to aid in making u..iror~n planting shapes. Field measurements are time cons~ , expensive, and less uniform. The lack of pre-measured lines also adversely impacted the planting shapes and uniformity. Multiple cuts in this general type of planting medium have been found to rapidly dull a sharp knife.

Example 4 Using the plant multi-section pack propagation technique of Figure 5, to a standard 1020 nursery flat is added a MSP leinrolcement conci~ting of PBN II 0.3opsy with 4 partition lines forming 8 planting sections. In the partition lines, the ratio 30 of the cut nonwoven fiber regions to the uncut fiber regions is 8/1. The cut line width is about 0 cm. The uncut fiber regions were about 0.1 cm in length. PBN II0.3 is a nylon 6,6 spunbond nonwoven 0.0038 inch thick and a fiber denier of about 3.8 dpf and described further herein above. A 2.5 cm layer of MSW is placed on top of the MSP reinforcement To this flat is added about 2 grams per square foot of 35 Jon~th~n Green's Northeast Wildflower Mixture 12383 which contains bachelor'sbuttons, baby's breadth, wallflower, blue flax, ox-eye daisy, lance-leaved coreopsis, Pnvuc: S<7i~1 Numba: M1296C~ p~. 60 219~03~

California poppy, evening primrose, catchfly, black-eyed Susan, prairie coneflower, plains coreopsis, and Missouri plhlllos~. Jon~ll.AI- Green is located in Farmingdale, Nl. The plant multi-section pack is watered and nurtured for 2 months.
The plant multi-section pack with live viable plants is removed from the flat.
5 The plant multi-section pack is separated along the pre-measured partition lines and 8 sub~lanlially uniÇollll rectangular planting sections result. The res--lting planting sections from the plant multi-section pack are planted and four healthy groups of plants result.

l0 Example 5 Using the plant multi-section pack propagation technique of Figure 5, a plant multi-section pack is grown. MSP l~ rolcelllent is preparcd by gluing sheets of compressed peat to a piece of thin paper and having partition lines between saidsheets of colllpressed peat. The co~ r~ssed peat pieces are arranged side to side and 15 end to end on a piece of newspaper and lightly glued to the thin paper using a standard white glue available from Bordens, Inc. in Columbus, OH. The density of' the colll~lessed peat sheet is about 0.3 g/cm3 and the thickness is 0.17 to 0.21 cm.
The density of the thin paper is about 0.71 g/cm3 and the thickness is 0.007 cm. The line width of the partition line of thin paper is about 0.3 cm. This MSP
20 reillro~cement thus has low ~l-cngll~ thin paper forming multiple partition lines between the pieces of peat and said partition lines have an increased rate of degradation compared to the sheets of peat (currently believed to be becd~lse the paper is thinner and paper cellulose has a faster rate of degradation than does peat). A 3 cm layer of Control Gro 2 is added on top of the peat,~paper M5P rei.lrolcelnent (paper 25 layer upper most). Control Gro #2 is a planting medium m~n~lfactllred by Hyde Park Products Inc. in Mamaroneck, NY. Control Gro #2 is a planting m~ium conci~ting long fiber peat moss (70%), water repellent granulate rockwool (30%) and minor amounts of dolomite limestone, calcitic limestone, non-ionic wetting agent, calcium nitrate, triple super-phosphate, potassium sulfate, and trace elements. To this flat is 30 added about 2 grams per square foot of Jonathan Green's Northeast Wildflower Mixture 12383 which conlains bachelor's buttons, baby's breadth, wallflower, blue flax, ox-eye daisy, lance-leaved coleopsis, California poppy, evening primrose, catchfly, black-eyed Susan, prairie coneflower, plains coreopsis, and Missouri primrose. Jonathan Green is located in Farmingdale, NJ. The plant multi-section pack 35 iS watered and nurtured for 2.5 months.

I'ri~ Se~i~l Number: M129~~ p~. 61 2l 94035- ' The plant multi-section pack with live viable plants is removed from the flat.
The plant multi-section pack is separated along the partition lines and substantially uniform planting sections result. The resulting planting sections from the plant multi-section pack are planted and four healthy groups of plants result.

Summary, Ramifications, and Scope Accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art will see that valuable plant multi-section packs can be easily propagated according to this invention. Plant multi-section packs of grasses and orn~m~nt~l plants are easily and economically grown with this process. Plant multi-section packs can be harvested and sold in bloom. The plantmulti-section packs of this invention have excellent root development and contain living plants. The bio-engineered 3 ~limçnsion~l structure created between the roots and the plant multi-section pack are both new and unique to plant multi-section packs of this invention. Synthetic resin co~u~ ,lion is kept very low and waste is .
m1mm17ed .
Although the specification and examples show many preferred embodimentc, these are not to be construed as limi~ing the scope of the invention in any way but merely as providing helpful illustrations of some of the presently preÇ~I~ed embo~limPnt.c of this invention. Various known techniques can be combined with this invention such as automating the production of these plant multi-section packs in greenhouses, and cooling the plant multi-section packs for storage or shipping purposes. The partition lines can be made with improved visibility to aid customers.
An illustrative example is colored markingc can be used on some or all of the partition lines. Root growth amen~lmentc can be used in propagation. Long strips of multiple plant multi-section packs can be grown on polyethylene and then separated at predetermined primary partition lines in order to grow flat size plant multi-section packs without the expense of nursery flats. If grown in nursery flats, plant multi-section packs can be removed and shipped to the customer on pallets. This removes the work necesc~ry by the l~ndsc~r~er to pick up and return or discard the used flats.
Planting medium treatmçn~ agents can effectively be incorporated into the MSP
reinforcements to further simplify and / or improve propagation of plant multi-section packs. Illustrative examples of planting medium treatment agents include moisture absorbers, nutrients and plant growth regulators helpful to propagation. United States patent US 5,139,566 to 7.imm~rman is a l~presel1~tive example known to those skilled in the art and is included herein by reference.

Pri~tc S~i-l Numb~r: M1296CA p~

21940~5 The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the l,.erel.ed embo~limentc and examples given.

I'riv~2c S~i~l Number: MIZ96CA p~. 63

Claims (8)

1. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections comprising:
a. a coherent porous sheet of reinforcement with at least one partition line forming a fault line for dividing the plant multi-section pack into the plantingsections;
b. a layer of planting medium contacting the sheet and wherein the layer of the planting medium is unattached to the sheet;
c. viable plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots; and d. wherein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates with the sheet.

2. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 1 wherein roots selected from the group consisting of the roots of the upper root portion and the roots of the lower root portion cross the partition line.

3. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 2 wherein the viable plants comprise garden plants and the sheet is comprised of fibers.

4. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 3 wherein the sheet is comprised of a nonwoven fabric.

5. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 3 wherein the sheet is comprised of cellulosic material.

6. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 3 wherein the sheet is comprised of peat.

7. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections comprising:
a. a coherent porous sheet of reinforcement having at least 3 partition lines forming fault lines for separating the multi-section pack into planting sections, at least 2 of the partition lines intersect and wherein the partition lines are from 2 to 60 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor;

pg 64 b. a layer of planting medium contacting the sheet and wherein the planting medium has at least one type of an unconnected discrete particulate matter;
c. viable plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots; and d. wherein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates with the sheet and roots selected from the group consisting of the roots of the upper root portion and the roots of the lower root portion cross the partition line.

8. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 7 wherein the sheet is comprised of cellulosic material.

10. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 7 wherein the sheet is comprised of peat.

11. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 7 wherein the sheet is comprised of fibers.

12. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 11 wherein viable plants comprise garden plants.

13. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 7 wherein the sheet is comprised of a nonwoven fabric.

14. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 7 wherein the sheet is comprised of a degradable synthetic resin.

15. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections comprising:
a. a coherent porous sheet of degradable material having at least 3 partition lines forming fault lines for separating the multi-section pack into smaller sections and at least 2 of the partition lines intersect;
b. a layer of planting medium contacting the sheet and wherein the layer of the planting medium is unattached to the sheet;
c. viable plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots; and d. wherein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates the sheet and roots selected from the group consisting of the upper root portion and of the lower root portion cross the partition line.

16. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 15 wherein:
a. the coherent porous sheet has a sag from 0 to 6 cm as measured by the Sag Resistance e Test - 4A; and b. the partition lines are from 2 to 60 cm from their nearest parallel partitionline neighbor.

17. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 16 wherein the sheet is comprised of peat.

18. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 16 wherein the sheet is comprised of fibers.

19. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 16 wherein the sheet is comprised of cellulosic material.

20. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 19 wherein the sheet is comprised of degradable material.

21. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections comprising:
a. a coherent porous sheet of reinforcement having at least 3 partition lines forming weak lines for reproducibly separating the multi-section pack into the planting sections, at least some of the partition lines intersect with each other and the partition lines are from 2 to 60 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor;
b. a layer of planting medium contacting the sheet and wherein the planting medium having at least one type of an unconnected discrete particulate matter;
c. viable plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots; and d. wherein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates the sheet and roots selected from the group pg. 66 consisting of the roots of the upper root portion and the roots of the lower root portion cross the partition line.

22. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 21 wherein:
a. the planting sections are pre-measured regular planting sections; and b. the layer of the planting medium is unattached to the sheet.

23. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 22 wherein the layer the viable plants are garden plants.

24. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 21 wherein:
a. the planting sections have a regular size and shape; and b. the layer of the planting medium is unattached to the sheet.

25. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 24 wherein the viable plants are garden plants.

26. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections having a regular size and shape comprising:
a. a coherent porous sheet of degradable material having at least 3 partition lines forming fault lines for dividing the multi-section pack into the planting sections having a regular size and shape and wherein the sheet consists essentially of degradable material;
b. a layer of planting medium contacting the sheet and wherein the layer of the planting medium is unattached to the sheet and the planting medium has at least one type of an unconnected discrete particulate matter;
c. viable plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots; and d. wherein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates and entangles with the sheet and roots selected from the group consisting of the roots of the upper root portion and the roots of the lower root portion cross the partition line.

pg. 67 27. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 26 wherein:
a. the coherent porous sheet has a low sag; and b. at least two of the partition lines intersect.

28. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 27 wherein the sheet consists essentially of cellulosic material.

29. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 27 wherein the sheet consists essentially of peat.

30. A plant multi-section pack having pre-measured regular planting sections comprising:
a. a coherent porous sheet of cellulosic material having at least 3 partition lines forming lines for separating the plant multi-section pack into the pre-measured regular planting sections;
b. a layer of planting medium contacting the sheet and wherein the planting medium has at least one type of an unconnected discrete particulate matter;
c. viable plants comprising ornamental plants in the layer of planting medium and the plants having an upper root portion having roots and a lower root portion having roots; and d. wherein the upper root portion binds the layer of planting medium and the lower root portion penetrates and entangles with the sheet and roots selected from the group consisting of the roots of the upper root portion and the roots of the lower root portion cross the partition line.

31. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 30 wherein:
a. at least two of the partition lines intersect;
b. the coherent porous sheet has a sag from 0 to 6 cm as measured by the Sag Resistance Test - 4A; and c. the viable plants are comprised of garden plants.

32. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 30 wherein:
a. at least two of the partition lines intersect;

pg. 68 b. the partition lines are from 2 to 60 cm from their nearest parallel partition line neighbor; and c. the viable plants are comprised of garden plants.

33. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 32 wherein the sheet consist essentially of peat.

34. A plant multi-section pack having planting sections according to claim 32 wherein the planting sections have a uniform size and shape.