PORTABLE HYDROSEEDER SEED, MULCH AND FERTILIZER WATER DISSOLVABLE PACKET

A self-contained hydroseeding packet that can be quickly loaded into a portable hydroseeder having seed, mulch and fertilizer in a predetermined ratio bound by a tacifier. The seed, mulch and fertilizer dissolve into a slurry when combined with water. Optionally, the packet can have a color to identify areas previously seeded. The seed, fertilizer, and mulch are bound by a water soluble binding agent and is biodegradable.

FIELD

The invention pertains to hydro-seeding and more specifically a self-contained hydroseeding packet comprising seed, mulch and fertilizer that when combined with water dissolves into a slurry for use in a portable hydroseeding system.

BACKGROUND

Hydroseeding (or hydraulic mulch seeding, hydro-mulching, hydraseeding) is a planting process that uses a slurry of seed, fertilizer and mulch. The slurry is transported in a housing, either truck-mounted or trailer-mounted and sprayed over prepared ground in a uniform layer. Alternatively, helicopters and aircraft can be used where larger areas must be covered, such as, for example, burned wilderness areas after a fire. Hydroseeding is an alternative to the traditional process of broadcasting or sowing dry seed and promotes quick germination and inhibits soil erosion. Hydroseeding is used to seed grass on commercial sites (highways/motorways etc.), golf courses, lawns and areas too large, inaccessible or unsuitable for conventional methods. Starting a lawn by hydroseeding is considerably cheaper than laying sod/turf and quicker than using dry seed. It is also used to spread mixtures of wildflower and tree/shrub seeds or turf grasses for erosion control. Hydroseeding typically has similar costs to dry seeding techniques that combine seed with straw mulch. Further, the hydroseeding slurry is weed free whereas straw mulch can contain weeds. Also, hydroseeding is typically less than ¼ the cost of laying sod.

Disadvantageously, there has never been a portable hydroseeder due to the pressure required to eject the mulch. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,285, hydroseeding is currently done by hiring a contractor that has a truck with separate housings for the water and dry ingredients (mulch, seed, color etc.) and an agitator pump to mix the water and the dry ingredients to produce a slurry that can then be spread over a large area. U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,356 describes a portable seeding device that uses suction, using the venturi effect, to lift a mixture of water and seed from a jar. The constriction required to lift the seed and water out of the jar using the venturi effect is insufficient to allow any mulch to be added to the jar. Additionally, the amount of seed and mulch required to cover at least a one square foot area would make the jar extremely large and unwieldy.

However, as describe in patent application PCT/US09/51178 and its corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/001,684, both applications which are incorporated in there entirety herein, there exists a portable hydroseeding system capable of overcoming the deficiencies in the prior art. Disadvantageously, there currently only exists premixed slurry components or individual components that a user must load by hand. The premixed slurry components usually come in a large plastic bag that is unwieldy for placing into the compartment of the portable hydroseeder. The individual components must first be measured and mixed in the correct amounts before being placed into the portable hydroseeder. Also, the process of filling or refilling the portable hydroseeder can involve excess spillage of the slurry material and the user getting their hands and potentially their clothes dirty while trying to fill or refill the portable hydroseeder.

Therefore, there is a need for a self-contained hydroseeding packet comprising seed, mulch and fertilizer that when combined with water dissolves into a slurry for use in the portable hydroseeding system described in the incorporated patent applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention solves the problems with the prior art by providing a self-contained hydroseeding packet comprising seed, mulch and fertilizer that when combined with water dissolves into a slurry for use in a portable hydroseeding system. In one embodiment the hydroseeding packet comprises a packet that has the proper mixture of seed fertilizer and mulch so that the packet can be quickly loaded into the portable hydroseeder for use by the user to plant an area. Optionally the packet can also comprise a coloring so that the user can identify areas previously seeded.

As used in this disclosure, except where the context requires otherwise, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising”, “comprises” and “comprised” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

The term “slurry” refers to a mixture of water, seed and mulch with other additives, such as, fertilizer, coloring agent and weed killer or pre-made mixtures, such as, for example, Scotts® Patchmaster® products among others.

The term “packet” refers to a self-contained device for making a slurry that is held together by a binding means.

In the following description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits can be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques may not be shown in detail.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments can be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart can describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations can be rearranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, there is shown is a diagram100of a self-contained hydroseeding packet comprising seed, mulch and fertilizer that when combined with water dissolves into a slurry for use in a portable hydroseeding system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hydroseeding packet100comprises seed102, fertilizer104and mulch106. The seed102, fertilizer104and mulch106are bound by a binding agent108. The binding agent108can comprise a water soluble paper, polyvinyl alcohol, quick dissolving gelatin, starch among other binding agents. Preferably, the binding agent is quickly dissolved in water and biodegradable. In a preferred embodiment the binding agent is polyvinyl alcohol.

The hydroseeding packet100comprises sufficient seed, mulch and fertilizer to spread over a one foot square area. A typical mixture would comprise approximately fiftyfour ounces of cellulose mulch, sixteen ounces of starter fertilizer and sixteen ounces of turf fescue lawn seed. As can be appreciated, there is an infinite potential for seed, mulch and fertilizer mixtures that can be made. However, those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure will understand that the seed being planted (grass, flower, vegetable, etc.) will determine the optimum mixture to ensure maximum yield from the hydroseeding.

Additionally, the hydroseeding packet100is shaped for quickly inserting the packet into the portable hydroseeder so that the user can readily seed larger areas, such as, for example a flower bed without the need to manually mix the slurry prior to placing it in the portable hydroseeder.

Additionally, there is provided a method for making a self-contained hydroseeding packet. The method comprises first measuring the amount of seed to include in the packet and storing the seed in a temporary holding container. Then, a measured amount of fertilizer is placed into the temporary holding container. Next, a measured amount of mulch is placed into the temporary holding container. Optionally, measured amount of coloring agent, weed killer, insecticide, pesticides and other additives that are conducive to maximize the seeds' growth can be added to the temporary holding container. Then, the contents of the temporary holding container are thoroughly mixed until the materials are homogenously distributed throughout. Finally, the mixture is transferred to a packeting device where the mixture is portioned out to the correct amounts for the size of the portable hydroseeder being used. Finally, the homogenous mixture is bound into the packet shape with a binding agent. The binding agent can be a water-soluble liquid that forms into a solid or into a water soluble outer material, such as, for example water soluble paper. Preferably, the binding agent used will be non-toxic and biodegradable. Additionally, the measurements of all of the materials included in the packet can be by weight, volume, or both weight and volume.

Although the present invention has been discussed in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of preferred embodiments contained in this disclosure. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.