GB2227152A

GB2227152A - Method of covering a ground area

Info

Publication number: GB2227152A
Application number: GB8901273A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Alan Ray Woolley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-01-20
Filing date: 1989-01-20
Publication date: 1990-07-25
Also published as: GB8901273D0

Abstract

A method of covering a ground area surrounding a tree (10), shrub, bush or plant utilises a protective member (16) of rigid or semi-rigid material, generally flat configuration having an opening (20, 21, 22) or an at least partially preformed opening, the method comprising the steps completing the opening (20, 21, 22) and locating the protective member (16) with the tree (10) extending through the opening (20, 21, 22) with the protective member (16) in contact with the ground whereby the protective member (16) can be left in place for a considerable period of time. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Method of covering a ground area" Description of Invention This invention relates to a method of covering a ground area surrounding a tree, shrub, bush or plants (hereinafter generically called a "tree".) It is known for forresters to cover a ground area surrounding a tree using flexible polythene sheeting but such method has been found to be unsatisfactory because the polythene sheeting has only a very short.life and in time, tends to be disintegrated by ultra-violet radiation.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved method of covering a ground area.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a method of covering a ground area surrounding a tree utilising a protective member of rigid or semi-rigid (as herein defined) material, generally flat (as herein defined) configuration having an opening or an at least partially preformed opening the method comprising the steps completing the opening and locating the protective member with the tree extending through the opening with the protective member in contact with the ground.

Thus a more permanent method is achieved of covering a ground area surrounding a tree and the protective member can be left in place for a considerable period of time for example, up to five years.

By "semi-rigid" we mean that the protective member is made of a material which is able to maintain its own shape under normal conditions, but which can be distorted when a sufficient force is applied. Preferably the material is reslient.

By "generally flat" we mean that in use, the protective member does not extend significantly upwardly from the ground.

Preferably the opening when provided is sufficiently large to accommodate both the tree and a stake which is conventionally used to support a tree at least during its early growing years.

The opening may be circular, or may comprise more than one, preferably two or three superimposed circles.

When the opening is only partially preformed, the opening may be provided in the protective member by a circular cut or plurality of superimposed circular cuts which do not extend entirely through the thickness of the protective member. In this way, a user of the protective member may provide an opening in the protective member or a size and configuration to suit the particular requirement.

The circular, or at least one of the circular cuts, may include radially extending cuts which do not extend through the entire thickness of the protective member so that the opening when completed may be bounded by a plurality of triangular fingers which extend inwardly of the opening. Thus as a tree grows and its thickness increases, these fingers may open out so as not to constrict growth of the tree. Also, the fingers of the protective member will always lie closely adjacent to the tree so as to inhibit weed seeds and light from falling on the ground immediately adjacent the tree.

Preferably, the protective member includes a cut which extends from the opening or the partially preformed opening, to an external periphery of the member to facilitate locating the protective member around the tree.

The protective member may be made of a plastic material, or preferably a rubber or rubberised plastic material for long-life, and preferably, a material which is not prone to ultra-violet radiation damage, and which is sufficiently heavy so as not to be easily lifted from contact with the ground, for example in a strong wind.

Preferably the protective member has a peripherial formation which extends downwardly. It will be appreciated that when it is desired to plant a tree it is necessary to excavate the ground thus softening the ground. Thus the method may include pressing downwardly upon the protective member around its periphery so as to force the peripheral formation into the ground to provide further anchoring.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a protective member for use in the method according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the protective member has an at least partially preformed circular opening provided by a cut which does not extend entirely through the thickness of the protective member.

Radially extending cuts may be provided bounded by the circular cut which radial cuts do not extend entirely through the thickness of the protective member.

The protective member may be of generally circular configuration, or any other configuration as required.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE I is a side illustrative view through a tree wherein the ground area surrounding the tree has been protected by a method according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the protective member shown in Figure I prior to an opening being completed.

Referring to Figure 1, a tree 10 is shown growing from the ground II.

The tree 10 has only just been planted and thus the ground immediately beneath the tree has been excavated as indicated in the area 12. A stake 13 is provided to support the tree at least during its early growing years, the stake and the tree being secured together by a strap 15.

For the welfare of the tree it is conventional for the ground area surrounding the tree to be maintained clear of weeds. Conventionally this is done using chemical sprays which can harm the ground, or using a mechanical weed cutter but this has been found in many cases, to cause damage to the growing tree. In accordonce with the invention, a protective member l ó is provided which is of generally flat configuration, and in use, as shown in Figure I, lies in contact with the ground area surrounding the tree to prevent the ingress of sunlight and seeds onto the area immediately surrounding the tree 10.The protective member 16 is made of a resilient plastics or rubberised plastics material which is resistent to damage from ultra-violet radiation and also preforms the fuction of maintaining moist the ground area 12immediatley below the tree, to faciliate root growth.

The protective member 16 has a peripheral downwardly extending lip 17 which can be forced into the ground by applying downward pressure to the periphery of the protective member 16 after the protective member 16 has been located in position as hereinafter described.

Referring now also to Figure 2, it can be seen that the protective member 16 is of generally circular configuration having a cut 18 extending at least partially through the thickness of the peripheral member 16 from a central region 19 to the periphery, to facilitate locating the protective member around the tree 10 and stake 13 when the cut 18 is completed.

In the central region 19 thereof, there is provided an at least partially preformed opening comprising in this instance three superimposed circular cuts 20, 21, 22 which do not extend through the entire thickness of the protective member 16, each of the circular cuts 20, 21, 22 also having radially extending cuts 24 which again do not extend through the entire thickness of protective member 16. Thus a user of the protective member 16 may complete the opening by completing the cuts 20 to 22, 24 to provide an opening of a desired size to accommodate a trunk T of a tree 10, and a stake 13 of any particular size and configuration. The cuts 24 will provide fingers 25 when completed, which extend inwardly of the opening.

It will be appreciated that as the tree 10 grows, the thickness of the trunk T will increase. By virtue of the fingers 25, and the resilience of the material of the protective member 16, the opening may expand as the thickness of the trunk T increases so as not to provide any restriction to the growing tree. The fingers 25 are shown in Figure I in a partly opened-out condition.

When it is desired to remove the protective member 16, this may easily be done by distorting the protective member so as to allow the tree trunk T and stake 13 to pass along the slit 18 provided between the central region 19 and the periphery of the member. The member 16 can be re-used.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the protective member 16 need not be of domed configuration as described, but may be of any other generally flat-shape.

The protective member 16 need not be circular but could be of any other desired configuration.

If desired insteod of providing an at least partially preformed opening in the central region 19 thereof, an opening may be provided. The diametrical slit 18 may be provided in a completed condition rather than a preformed cut to faciliate location of the protective member.

In the example described, the protective member 16 is made of a semirigid resilient material which can maintain its own shape but which can be distorted when necessary to facilitate location and removal of the protective member in place. In another embodiment, the protective member could be made of a more rigid material although a wide slot would need to be provided to facilitate location of the protective member 16 about the tree 10 and the wider slot could not give as good a protection to the ground area surrounding the tree as with the example described.

Preferably the material of the protective member 16 is sufficiently heavy to maintain its contact with the ground II, with or without the downwardly extending lip formation 17.

In another arrangement stakes or ties may be provided to stake .or tie the protective member 16 to the ground. Alternatively and/or additionally, the member 16 may have a peripheral outwardly extending flange which is desgined to be embedded in the ground, to maintain the member 16 in contact with the ground II.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

I. A method of covering a ground area surrounding a tree utilising a protective member of rigid or semi-rigid (as herein defined) material, generally flat (as herein defined) configuration having an opening or an at least partially preformed opening the method comprising the steps completing the opening and locating the protective member with the tree extending through the opening with the protective member in contact with the ground.
2. A method according to claim I wherein the opening, when provided, is sufficiently large to accommodate both the tree and a stake for supporting the tree.
3. A method according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the opening is circular.
4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the opening comprises more than one, preferably two or three superimposed circles.
5. A method according to any one of claims I to 4 wherein where the opening is only partially preformed, the opening is provided in the protective member by a circular cut or plurality of superimposed circular cuts which do not extend entirely through the thickness of the protective member.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the circular, or at least one of the circular cuts, includes radially extending cuts which do not extend through the entire thickness of the protective member so that the openinq when completed is bounded by a plurality of triangular fingers which extend inwardly of the opening.
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective member includes a cut which extends from the opening or the partially preformed opening, to an external periphery of the member to facilitate locating the protective member around the tree.
8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective member is made of a plastic material, or a rubber or rubberised plastic material.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the protective member is made of a material which is not prone to ultra-voilet radiation damage.
10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective member is made of a material which is sufficiently heavy so as not to be easily lifted from contact with the ground in a strong wind.
II. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective member has a peripheral formation which extends downwardly.
12. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A protective member for use in the method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective member has an at least partially preformed circular opening provided by a cut which does not extend entirely through the thickness of the protective member.
14. A member according to claim 13 wherein radially extending cuts are provided bounded by the circular cut which radial cuts do not extend entirely through the thickness of the protective member.
15. A member according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the protective member is of generally circular configuration.
16. A protective member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as herein described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.