Patent ID: 7581350

Claim:
A gardening apparatus for shielding desired vegetation and surrounding areas from unwanted contact with a liquid chemical when the liquid chemical is sprayed on a targeted plant, the gardening apparatus comprising: an elongated shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a shield located on the distal end portion of the elongated shaft having an aperture that is adjustable from an open position to a closed position, the aperture configured to conform to different sized stems of plants; and a hand control member located on the proximal end portion of the elongated shaft opposite the distal end portion, the hand control member in physical communication with the shield, configured to adjust the size of the aperture when the hand control member is manipulated, wherein the shield is positioned at the distal end portion of the elongated shaft, and forms a horizontal barrier that is substantially parallel to the ground when the aperture of the shield is adjusted around a stem of a plant, for protecting vegetation underneath the shield when herbacide is sprayed at a targeted plant.