Planting hole burning apparatus

A method of forming a row of spaced planting holes through a plastic film positioned atop a seed growing bed comprising the steps of:

• A. providing a planting hole burning apparatus comprising:
• a frame supported above the bed by spaced rotatable ground engaging wheels;
• a heat dispensing rotor connected to said frame for rotation about an axis substantially transverse to a direction of travel of said apparatus;
• drive means connected between one of said wheels and said rotor for rotating said rotor at a rotational speed corresponding to a ground speed of said apparatus whereby a distal end of said rotor passes in close proximity to the plastic film beneath said apparatus at an arcuate speed substantially equal to the ground speed of said apparatus;
• heating means for applying heat against the plastic film by said rotor distal end sufficient to substantially melt each of said holes in the plastic film as said apparatus travels over the plastic film;
• B. operating said apparatus along a seed growing bed covered with the plastic film.

A planting hole burning apparatus for forming a row of spaced planting holes through a plastic film positioned atop a seed growing bed comprising:

• a frame supported above the bed by spaced rotatable ground engaging wheels;
• a heat dispensing rotor connected to said frame for rotation about an axis substantially transverse to a direction of travel of said apparatus;
• drive means for propelling said apparatus over ground and for rotating said rotor whereby, during each revolution of said rotor, a first distal end of said rotor passes in close proximity to the plastic film beneath said apparatus;
• heating means for applying heat against the plastic film by said first distal end sufficient to substantially melt each of said holes in the plastic film as said apparatus travels over the plastic film.