GB2447261A

GB2447261A - Horticultural planting container

Info

Publication number: GB2447261A
Application number: GB0704191A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lucy Mary Dolman; Gary Dolman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-05
Filing date: 2007-03-05
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Also published as: GB0704191D0

Abstract

A horticultural planting container enabling planting into side walls of the container incorporates a plurality of slots 1 into which plants may be introduced. The slots 1 extend from a point above the base of the container and finish at the rim 3 of the container, the slot 1 having an opening at the rim 3. The rim 3 may have one or more moveable or removable supports to prevent distortion of the container. The container may have a plurality of suspension supports 9 to enable it to be used as a hanging basket. The container may be provided with a lining material to prevent loss of planting material within the container.

Description

Page 1

Description.

Horticultural Planting Container.

The invention relates to a form of horticultural planter or planting container.

When horticulturists or gardeners undertake the planting up of horticultural containers, especially such as in the case of hanging baskets, plants are often introduced to the sides of the container in order to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing effect. In these instances, the walls of the container will often be of a construction which specifically allows for this purpose, for example with the provision of planting holes or being of an open lattice or framework construction.

However, it is often necessary to use relatively small or immature plants in the planting operation due to the fact that the plant root-ball needs to be physically accommodated by the size of the planting hole or gap. These planting holes or gaps must also themselves be small enough to contain securely the material used to line the container and prevent the loss of growing medium. These factors combine to generally limit the size of the plants to be used. The planted-up container therefore typically requires a further period of growth before it reaches a point where it might be regarded as usable or saleable.

To overcome this problem, the present invention proposes a horticultural planter that incorporates a number of slots in the side walls which can be utilised for side planting.

It would therefore be possible to use larger, more mature plants in the planting-up of this container because it is the basal stem or neck' only of the plant which would need to be accommodated in the slot, the plants being introduced at one end and then slid along the length of the slot to the desired position. The portion of the slot unfilled by plant material would be lined with an appropriate basket lining material in order to retain the growing medium.

Preferably, the upper rim of the container would incorporate a moveable or removable support or brace which would allow the plants to be introduced into the slots but then would help to prevent subsequent distortion of the container in use or in transport.

The orientation of the slots may be vertical or inclined at any angle to the vertical.

The sides of the slots may be parallel to one another or non-parallel.

The wall of the container itself may be formed from any suitable material and may be solid or of a latticed or framework or woven construction.

The planting slots may be straight, or curved in shape.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an example of a container with planting slots I incorporated into the structure of the walls 2. In this example, the slots are incorporated vertically in the container wall. The width of the slots is large enough to accommodate the thickness of the stem of the subject plants but narrow enough to offer support to any container-Page 2 lining material utilised to retain the growing medium within.

Figure 2 shows an example of the invention in which the upper rim of the planting container is supported by a moveable or removable bracing support 3 which allows introduction of the plant material into a planting slot but then both helps to prevent distortion of the container in use or when transported and offers further support to any lining material used.

Figure 3 shows an example of the application of the invention as a hanging basket in which 9 is an example of a commonly used means of suspension such as a chain, rod or moulded hanger.

Figure 4 shows an example of the method by which a mature plant is accommodated by an individual slot within a planter such as is proposed by the invention. In this example, I is the slot in the container wall 2 into which the stem 4 of the plant is introduced. 7 represents the top-growth of the plant outside the wall of the container 2 and 5 the root-ball contained within. The container is lined with a suitable lining material 6 which serves to retain the growing medium 8.

Claims

Page 3 Claims. Horticultural Planting Container.

1. A horticultural planting container enabling planting into the side walls of the container, these walls themselves incorporating a number of slots into which the plants may be introduced.

2. A horticultural planting container according to claim I in which the container rim has one or more moveable or removable supports to help prevent distortion of the container in use or in transit.

3. A horticulturaJ planting container according to claim I in which the container is provided with a number of suspension supports which enable the container to be suspended from a suitable point.

4. A horticultural planting container according to claim I which is provided with a suitable lining material which prevents loss of substrate from the planter.