# US 5,345,713 A · Low cost, versatile sod mat and method for propagation

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- Number: US 5,345,713 A
- Document ID: US5345713A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/034,231
- Filed: 1993-03-22
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1991-08-14
- Inventors: Charles J. Molnar; Judith R. Molnar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345713A

## CPC

- A01C 1/044: {Sheets, multiple sheets or mats}
- A01G 20/20: Cultivation on mats
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)

## Abstract

A new and improved herb, vegetable, flower, and groundcover sod mat suitable for many landscape applications. The improvement comprises growing either plant seeds, seedlings, plant plugs, rooted cuttings, or root divisions in a planting medium so that the roots of the plant material entangle with a polyolefin sod reinforcement to form a tough, lightweight, flexible sod mat. The sod mat can be produced in many strengths and weights, with many diverse planting mediums, with multiple species of plants. The polyolefin sod reinforcement can contain prodegradants which promote environmental friendliness. Sod mat may be sold in rolls or rectangular mat.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A new and improved plant sod mat comprising the following:
a) a polyolefin sod reinforcement wherein said polyolefin sod reinforcement comprises a pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric and said sod reinforcement is less than 1.5 opsy;
b) a layer of planting medium on said polyolefin sod reinforcement;
c) viable plants growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said polyolefin sod reinforcement and thus, form a sod mat.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 1 wherein said pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric has a basis weight of less than about 0.8 opsy.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 2 wherein said plants are nutritional plants.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 2 wherein said plants are ornamental plants.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 2 wherein said plants comprise specialty grasses.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 2 wherein an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region is from about 4/1 to 30/1 and said plants are garden plants.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 1 wherein said pattern bonded polyolefin nonwoven fabric has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region of from about 15/1 to 1000/1.

### Claim 8

A new and improved plant sod mat comprising the following:
a) a polypropylene sod reinforcement wherein said polypropylene sod reinforcement consists essentially of a pattern bonded, polypropylene spunbond fabric and wherein said polypropylene sod reinforcement has has a basis weight of less than or equal to 1.5 opsy;
b) a layer of planting medium on said polypropylene sod reinforcement;
c) viable plants selected from the group comprising herbs, vegetables, flowers or groundcovers growing in said planting medium and whose roots penetrate and entangle with said polypropylene sod reinforcement and thus, form a sod mat.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 8 wherein said polypropylene sod reinforcement contains an additive selected from the group consisting of prodegradants and water leachable stabilizers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 8 wherein said polypropylene sod reinforcement contains a hydrophilic treatment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 8 wherein said polypropylene sod reinforcement is less than or equal to about 0.8 opsy.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 11 wherein said viable plants axe selected from the group comprising flower and groundcover species.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 11 wherein said polypropylene sod reinforcement contains a hydrophilic treatment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 8 wherein said pattern bonded polypropylene spunbond fabric is less than or equal to about 0.8 opsy.

### Claim 15

A new and improved sod mat comprising a garden plant sod mat with an effective polyolefin sod reinforcement wherein said polyolefin sod reinforcement consists essentially of a pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric and said polyolefin nonwoven fabric has a fabric basis weight of less than 1.5 opsy and viable plant roots which penetrate and entangle with said pattern bonded, nonwoven fabric and planting medium to form an sod mat.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 15 wherein said sod mat is divisible by hand.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 15 wherein said polyolefin sod reinforcement has a basis weight of less than about 0.8 opsy and said plants comprise ornamental plants.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 15 wherein said polyolefin sod reinforcement has a basis weight of less than about 0.3 opsy and said plants comprise garden plants.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

A new and improved sod mat of claim 15 wherein said pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric has an area ratio of the nonbonded fiber region to the bonded fiber region of from about 15/1 to 1000/1.

### Claim 20

An improved method of propagating plant sod mats comprising:
a) preparing a sod growing surface;
b) placing a polyolefin sod reinforcement on top of said sod growing surface wherein said polyolefin sod reinforcement consists essentially of a pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric and said pattern bonded, polyolefin nonwoven fabric has a basis weight of less than or equal to 1.5 opsy;
c) placing a layer of planting medium on said polyolefin sod reinforcement;
d) placing viable plant starting materials in said planting medium and;
e) watering and nourishing said plant starting material for growth to establish root penetration and entanglement with said polyolefin sod reinforcement and, thus form a sod mat.