Patent ID: 8567117

Claim:
A fiber mulch mat of comprising wood fibers and from 5 to 15% by weight of synthetic fibers based on the weight of the mulch mat, said synthetic fibers comprising about 15% by weight bicomponent fibers and about 85% non-bicomponent polypropylene fibers, based on the weight of the synthetic fibers, the bicomponent fibers comprising a low melt temperature polymer, and a high melt temperature polymer, the bicomponent fibers formed of polyester, polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, hi density polyethylene, polypropylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene aphthalate (PEN), polyamide, polycarbonate, rayon, polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylacetate, polyacrylonitrile, copolymers thereof, or combinations thereof, at least a portion of said bicomponent fibers, and said polypropylene fibers having been softened and/or melted to bind together fiber components of said mulch mat, said fiber mulch mat being a single layer mat of open construction which allows seedlings to penetrate the mat.