GB2348100A - Seed support - Google Patents

Abstract

A seed support comprises a support sheet (1) composed of filter paper or other porous material allowing the passage of air, water and seed roots, and a multiplicity of slats (2) which are composed of porous material which is capable of retaining moisture and permits the growth of roots through it. The support sheet allows articulation between adjacent slats and the support can be folded to provide a multiplicity of grooves for the retention of grass seed. The folded support can be secured by stitching. The support allows consistent germination of the grass seed and protects the seeds from birds.

Description

SEED SUPPORT This invention relates to seed supports adapted to promote the germination of seeds, particularly seeds for grasses intended for the establishment or re-establishment of turf lawns.

Background to the Invention It has become the practice in recent years to cut turfs more thinly than hitherto, so much so that the grass plants are being left with only a minimal root system. Consequently, reestablishment of turf lawns is at times a considerable difficulty, especially as weather patterns are unpredictable.

It is a matter of observation that during periods of drought, grass growing in crevices, such as the gaps between paving slabs or in gravel driveways, usually thrives. This is due to the way in which moisture is retained, whereas at the same time the roots are able to spread freely in material which is not liable to excess compaction.

The present invention has the general objective of enabling the production of a lawn from seed.

Growing turf from seed has the general benefit of a longer shelf life than cut turfs, greater availability, versatility of quantity sizes, and variety, in that the type of lawn may be varied by changing the proportions and mixes of seeds which are used. However, hitherto the difficulties of growing turf from seed, mainly but not wholly due to lack of continuous moisture during germination and afterwards, has made the use of cut turfs for the establishment of lawns the more popular. Nevertheless the invention may be employed for seeds other than grass seeds.

Several attempts have been made to provide a medium for the disposition and support of seeds at least during the germination and initial growing process. These include a sheet of fibrous material to which the seeds are stuck. Another proposa has been a sandwich composed of layers of fibrous material containing a mixture of seeds and some fibrous and/or organic material, such as for example paper-mache, peat or a mixture of the two. None of these proposas is believed to have proved successful in practice.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is exemplified by a seed support which comprises a sheet of porous fibrous material such as filter paper and a multiplicity of parallel slats to which the sheet is attached and which are composed of a bulky fibrous material. Preferably the slats are disposed parallel to each other and spaced apart so that the sheet hingedly connects adjacent slats. The slats may each be composed of a fibrous material such as cardboard and preferably corrugated cardboard, which retains moisture well The particular construction enables the support to be folded to provide a multiplicity of grooves in which seeds may be held.

A support in accordance with the invention is intended to be generally useful in situations where presently pre-grown turf is employed for the establishment of a lawn. Nevertheless the device may have a more general utility and it is not intended to limit the invention for use in the circumstances.

The overall dimensions of the sheet material are selectable. A practical size would be approximately one metre long by half a metre wide, which would represent a size that is convenient for handling and layout. The thickness of the composite construction may also be varied though a thickness in generally the range from ten to thirty millimetres is preferred.

By virtue of the above mentioned features, a support in accordance with the invention can retain sufficient moisture for the successful germination of seeds while also protecting the seeds from birds The sheet material, being permeable, allows the downward passage of fine grass roots, water and air into the soil whereas it is sufficiently dense to prevent the upward growth of broad leaved weed plants from below.

The slats, preferably made from corrugated cardboard, forming the bulk of the support, also allows free passage of water downwards into the soil but also tends to act as a reservoir of moisture. The slats give the support sufficient structural strength to be self-supporting and stable during the period in which the seeds germinate and the grass establishes In the long term, the carrier is substantially biodegradable.

Reference will herein after be made to the drawings, of which: Figure I is a view from above of a carrier in accordance with the invention ; and Figure 2 is a view from the side of a carrier in accordance with the invention.

As is shown in the drawings, a seed support in accordance with the invention is a structure which comprises two main components, the first component I being a support layer constituted by a sheet of a porous fibrous material such as a lightweight paper of the order of fifteen to twenty grammes per metre squared but may be constituted by other sheet material such as a lightweight horticultural fleece, or a woven cloth such as muslin, cotton or hessian.

This sheet is secured to a second component constituted by a multiplicity of slats 2 which are at least semi rigid and are intended to provide some structural rigidity to the composite carrier.

The slats 2 may be of elongate rectangular form and are secured to the support layer I by any convenient means, such as sewing (as shown by the lines 3), stapling or adhesive. The slats 2 are spaced apart so that the regions la of the support layer between the slats provide articulation between the slats.

The slats 2 are, as previously indicated, preferably made from thin walled corrugated card though laminated sheets of ordinary card or some synthetic plastics material could be used provided that the material was capable of sufficient retention of moisture.

A structure according to the invention may as shown in Figure 2 be folded in a concertina manner to provide a multiplicity of grooves 4 formed in the sheet support between adjacent pairs (such as shown at 2a and 2b) of slats, the slats being disposed back-to-back in each pair Seeds and possibly growth promoting additives, may be disposed as shown by the arrows A in those grooves where they can be securely retained not only during transport of the carrier but also during germination, when the carrier protects against the foraging of birds. The folding of the carrier in the manner indicated retains the seeds within the grooves and renders the support as a carrier in the form of a rigid board. It may be secured in that form by any suitable means, such a stitching, adhesive tapes or other means.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS I A seed support comprising a support sheet composed of porous material allowing the passage of air, water and seed roots through it, and a multiplicity of slats, substantially more rigid than the porous sheet, and secured to the sheet in a manner which allows articulation between adjacent slats . A support according to claim 1 in which the slats are composed of a porous material which is capable of retaining moisture and permits the growth of roots through it.

   3. A support according to claim 2 in which the slats are composed of corrugated cardboard.

   4 A support according to any foregoing claim wherein the support sheet comprises paper having a weight of between fifteen and twenty grammes per metre squared.

   5. A seed carrier comprising a support according to any foregoing claim and in a folded state, wherein adjacent pairs of slats lie back to back and the sheet forms a respective groove between said adjacent pairs.

   6. A seed carrier according to claim 5 wherein means are provided to secure the carrier in the folded state 7. A seed carrier according to claim 5 or claim 6 and including seeds disposed in the grooves.