Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G13/00—Protecting plants
  • A01G13/02—Protective coverings for plants; Coverings for the ground; Devices for laying-out or removing coverings
  • A01G13/0237—Devices for protecting a specific part of a plant, e.g. roots, trunk or fruits

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a growing location for providing an below-grade living environment for a plant such as a tree.
• the invention also relates to a method for providing a below-grade living environment for a plant such as a tree.
• the invention further relates to a container for providing a below-grade living environment for a plant such as a tree.
• trees are generally planted at locations in cities or built-up areas.
• a problem here is that these environments are usually unsuitable for sustained growth of such trees.
• trees obtain water from for instance rainfall, wherein the water can permeate directly into the ground around the tree over the whole area around the tree. This whole area or small area can hereby take advantage of the direct precipitation.
• built-up areas a large part of the environment of a tree is usually built on or paved, or is otherwise unsuitable for receiving rainwater.
• a significant part of the rainwater in urban environments is also drained directly from the buildings or paving, for instance to a sewer, in order to prevent flooding.
• This drained water can no longer be used in the ground in which the tree is living.
• the ground can hereby dry out and the tree can suffer a shortage of water.
• the present invention provides a growing location for providing a below-grade living environment for a plant such as a tree, comprising:
• a container which can be placed in or under the growth medium for the pu ⁇ ose of providing a liquid buffer for the growing location.
• Such a growing location provides the advantage that during dry periods the liquid buffer can be used from which the tree can take up liquid by means of its roots until the moisture deficiency in the other growth medium or the ground therearound is again made up with for instance rainwater.
• the tree can hereby survive long periods of dryness without water having to be supplied by active human intervention. This saves labour effort, particularly during the summer period, which is expensive and more difficult to provide in this period because of for instance holidays, also in the light o ⁇ the unpredictability of the requirement due to the unpredictability of dry periods.
• the container in the growing location comprises an overflow for draining excess liquid.
• the container hereby provides water only up to a predetermined volume and for instance to below a determined level under the ground surface. Damage for instance to the roots of a tree by excess water is hereby prevented.
• This level is preferably adapted to the depth which the roots of a tree have to reach for the tree to grow to its full size.
• the container comprises a deformable material such as a foil.
• the container can hereby be shaped on site, which provides advantages in respect of adjustment to the form of the growing location.
• the container can also be transported in compact form. It is emphasized here that the size of the container need not be related to the volume of for instance the growth medium of a growing location.
• a suitable size of the container can be chosen subject to for instance fluctuations in the natural liquid supply.
• the container can herein extend below surrounding objects or structures such as roads, car parks, buildings and so on.
• the container can comprise one or more form-retaining container bodies which can be mutually connected for liquids.
• the latter is preferably embedded in one or more protective layers of for instance a geotextile or ground material such as clay or sand or other suitable material. Damage due to sharp parts present for instance below or above the container or by root growth of the tree can hereby be prevented.
• a geotextile or ground material such as clay or sand or other suitable material.
• the growing location is provided with an overflow buffer for draining liquid above a quantity which can be received in the container.
• an overflow buffer for draining liquid above a quantity which can be received in the container.
• excess water can still be drained quickly from the container or the growth medium by means of such a buffer.
• Such water can then be discharged via a drainage system and/or a sewer.
• the growing location preferably also comprises a supply of liquid which is arranged such that liquid can be collected in the container.
• a supply of liquid which is arranged such that liquid can be collected in the container.
• the supply can preferably be coupled to a rainwater collector.
• a rainwater collector can collect rainwater from pavings and/or buildings.
• This supply and/or the rainwater collector herein preferably comprises filter means for purifying rainwater, such as separating means for heavy metals or separating means and/or solvents for hydrocarbons. It hereby becomes possible to apply water which is contaminated by for instance the consequences of car traffic. Water recovered from the street or from car parks can thus be applied in the growing location and, in the case of plentiful supply, optionally flow along the container into the groundwater without the ground being contaminated by the contaminating substances.
• the container comprises a plurality of reservoirs it is possible to imitate a groundwater level at different heights and/or to connect for instance growing locations.
• the containers preferably comprise liquid connections.
• the growth medium in the growing location comprises a granulate filling for the purpose of supporting a ground cover.
• a growing location according to the present invention can hereby extend below a heavily loaded surface, such as a street over which heavy vehicles can travel, without this surface being damaged.
• the growing location can comprise a sand filling for the purpose of supporting a ground cover, such as more lightly loaded pavings or shrub areas.
• a foundation member can be envisaged for supporting a ground cover, such as a structural element of concrete or built-up of stone.
• the water supply means comprise control means for controlling the supply per flow rate and/or time. Washing away of material can hereby be prevented.
• the supply can for instance also be controlled such that the supply stops when the container is full and/or at a determined moistness of the growth medium. Supply by means of a water mains can even be applied. Water can also be obtained from for instance ditchwater and/or groundwater.
• a further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for controlling the living environment in a below-grade growth area for a plant such as a tree, comprising steps for:
• a further aspect of the present invention relates to a container or material for constructing a container for use in a method according to one or more of the claims 17-18, and/or for use in a growing location according to one or more of the claims 1-16.
• FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment according to the present invention in cross-section and in side view.
• a preferred embodiment relates to a growing location 1.
• Growing in this growing location is a tree with a trunk, foliage and a root system.
• the root system is situated in a growth medium 10 comprising a granulate suitable for providing a living environment for the roots and for supporting the top surface heavily loaded by for instance car traffic.
• granulate comprises for instance a stone mixture of rubble of 16-40 mm with clay having for instance 10% of empty space suitable for holding the roots of the tree.
• the tree stands in a surface where paving 8 is arranged, and only a small opening provided for the trunk.
• This paving allows through hardly any water to provide the ground with water. This is on the one hand to prevent contamination from the street, such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons and soot, getting into the ground. If such drawbacks are not important, channels allowing passage of water can be arranged between the paving stones. It may however also occur in such a case that a dry period occurs such that the growth medium dries up and/or the tree becomes dehydrated.
• a reservoir 2 for holding a quantity of water, such as for instance 1-50 cubic metres. More is possible if the tree has a large water requirement, prolonged dry periods occur or for instance many trees make use of the reservoir.
• the reservoir is constructed in cross- section from three wall parts, a side wall 5, a bottom wall 3 and a side wall 4. Side wall 5 is relatively high in order to prevent leakage on this side, which is also provided with a water supply. Side wall 4 is provided in cross-section with an overflow for discharging excess water therethrough in the direction of arrow A.
• the excess water can be drained directly into the surrounding ground.
• a buffer 14 is optionally provided which is bounded by walls 15,16,17.
• the buffer is filled with a material which can absorb a great deal of water and provides a certain strength.
• the water can be discharged through a porous bottom wall 17 in the direction of arrows D, or the water is drained via a pipe or hose 18 and a sewer 19.
• the growing location is provided with a water-collecting provision 20, comprising a water-permeable paving 9 on the top side.
• This paving collects rain in the direction of arrow C.
• a collector 11 for collecting heavy metals.
• the water will permeate therethrough and enter a road foundation which forms a water buffer comprising microbes suitable for breaking down hydrocarbons.
• a filter connected to a tube 6.
• a hose leads from the tube in the direction of growth medium 10 and reservoir 2 for collecting the water and use by the tree.
• control means can then be added for controlling the quantity of water that is introduced into the ground and how much is drained to the sewer.
• the reservoir can be constructed from a foil which can be protected by means of one or more layers of geotextile or sand or clay.
• the reservoir can further be formed from a hard shell, or be constructed from a plurality of hard shells which can optionally be mutually connected by means of for instance hoses or pipes.
• a further alternative for the construction of the reservoir is the use of bentonite shells. The skilled person is further able to conceive of further suitable constructions within the scope of the present invention.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
• Road Paving Structures (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38982847

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (4)

Citations (4)

• 2006
  • 2006-09-21 NL NL1032553A patent/NL1032553C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2007
  • 2007-09-21 WO PCT/NL2007/000236 patent/WO2008035964A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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