CA2534761A1 - Weed blocker and plant starter apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and bio-degradable apparatus for planting seeds and growing plants wherein the seeds are planted in a sterile germinating soil mix in a row of spaced enclosures placed upon any tilled soil or other plant nutrient medium. The plant roots will grow directly into the soil, with no replanting. The template will allow water and plant roots through and block weeds from pushing through apparatus. This will eliminate the need to transplant starter plants, it will also block any weeds around plants thus eliminating weeding except for weeds that will come up next to the apparatus, which can be tilled or cultivated. At the end of the year simply till up the bio-degradable apparatus.

Description

Weed blocker and plant starter apparatus DESCRIPTION
[Para 1] Field: The field of the invention is an apparatus for planting and growing plants, while blocking weeds. This would minimize costs of tilling and labor of pulling weeds.

Prior Art [Para 2] Numerous devices and methods have been used for the germination of seeds and initial growth of the plants. These devices are mainly for starting seeds and designed to be planted directly in the soil or removed from the container. None of these devices attempt to block weeds once planted in the soil. Other devices roll a plastic or biodegradable blanket out on the soil that needs to have holes cut in to allow the plant to come up or be planted.

[Para 3] Some examples of use would be a home gardener tilling up garden soil then pushing a hardened plastic molded form into the ground first then removed.
This would push the holes needed in the soil for the weedless device. Once the holes were ready the weedless device could be laid on the soil over the area that was tilled and had the holes prepped. Then potting soil and seeds would be added to the area that has the holes on the weedless device. This could be repeated with more weedless apparatuses added in a row.

Page 1 of 11 [Para 4] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention will allow starting of plant seeds in the template with potting soil added. The template can be used indoors to start seeds then moved outdoors to soil plot laid over soil plot or be used outdoors immediately to laid on the soil plot with seeds added at that time.
Once the soil plot is tilled for planting the template will be ready to lay over the soil plot.
This template will block any weeds from sprouting under the template, thus allowing the planted seeds room to grow.

[Para 5] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which represent the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, FIG. 1 is the top view of the hole type product segment;

[Para 6] FIG. 2 is the side view of the hole type product segment;
[Para 7] FIG. 3 is the top view of the slot type product segment;
[Para 8] FIG. 4 is the side view of the slot type product segment;
[Para 9] FIG. 5 is the example sketch of placing the product segment;

Page 2 of 11 [Para 10] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The method for providing growth for seeds and preventing the growth of weeds is described in detail with reference to the figures.

In FIG. 1 a group of round dimples are used for the seeds and planting soil to be placed in.
1 b is the total length of the template, could be 3' to 6' in length. 1 a shows the width of the template, could be 6" to 1 + feet wide.

[Para 111 In FIG. 2, the template is shown for depth. 2a shows the thickness of the template, could be 1/16t"to 1/8". 2b shows the thickness of the cup of the template. This would be the part that would push into the soil.

In FIG. 3 a single rectangle slot is used for the seeds and planting soil to be placed in. 3b is the total length of the template, could be 3' to 6' in length. 3a shows the width of the template, could be 6" to 1+ feet wide.

[Para 12] In FIG. 4, the template is shown for depth. 4a shows the thickness of the template, could be 1/16t"to 1/8". 2b shows the thickness of the trough of the template.
This would be the part that would push into the soil.

[Para 13] In FIG. 5, the template is shown being placed in a tilled soil plot, one is laying on the soil the other is about to be placed on the soil.

Page 3 of 11 [Para 14] After the soil is tilled, the template can be placed directly on top of the soil and pushed down so that 2a or 4a is level with the soil. Once the seeds are placed in the dimples and potting soil added. Once the plants start growing the roots will grow through the peat/paper type material and into the soil. There should be no need to tend to the plants until harvest because the weeds will be blocked by the template.

Page 4 of 1 1

Claims (5)

1. [Claim 1]
   
   1. A method of planting seeds and growing plants in a weedless template/apparatus:
   Providing a flat pressed bio-degradable material (paper/peat) type flat sheet with holes in the center, spaced according to planting specifications. Placing the template upon the tilled soil of a growing plot, the egg carton shape holes being pushed into the tilled soil. Possibly using a hard plastic egg carton shape mold first to make the holes if soil is too hard. This template could also have a channel to accommodate seeds that can be planted close together. This will also eliminate the need to have to weed next to the plants.
2. [Claim 2]
   
   2. Filling each hole or channel with plant germinating soil mix;
3. 3. Planting at least one seed in the germinating soil mix of each hole or a number of seeds in the channel.
   
   [Claim 3]
4. 4. Allowing the seeds to germinate and the roots of the plants to grow through the holes of the template into the soil, and the plants to grow to harvestable maturity without any weeding around plants.
5. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein a group of templates:
   
   providing a group of adjoining and overlapping templates in a straight line would allow a continuous row of weedless plants to be established.
   
   The biodegradable template is made of any biodegradable material like peat, paper, straw and grass ect. This material would be put into a mold and pressed for a ridged template in various lengths. A woven flexible process could also be done to allow for a continuous roll.