Sprig planting machine

A method of planting grass sprigs, comprising:

• a) placing a supply of grass sprigs in a receiving area on a sprig planting machine;
• b) moving the sprig planting machine over the ground;
• c) transferring the grass sprigs from the receiving area to a first moving conveyor;
• d) conveying the grass sprigs on the first conveyor to a discharge point and discharging the grass sprigs onto a second conveyor;
• e) conveying the grass sprigs on the second conveyor and discharging the grass sprigs from the second conveyor;
• f) engaging the grass springs with a rotary agitator positioned over the second conveyor as the grass sprigs are conveyed on the second conveyor, and rotating the rotary agitator in a direction counter to the direction of movement of the grass sprigs on the second conveyor such that the grass sprigs are conveyed into the rotary agitator and agitated and fluffed by the counter rotation of the rotary agitator;
• and
• g) directing the grass sprigs onto the underlying ground as the sprig planting machine moves over the ground.

A sprig planting machine having a main frame;

• a hopper for receiving and holding sprigs and having at least a partially open bottom and a surrounding wall structure;
• a first conveyor disposed underneath the hopper and moveable in two directions, a second conveyor;
• wherein in a planting mode the sprigs are conveyed in one direction on the first conveyor and in an opposite direction on the second conveyor;
• and the hopper including an openable gate that enables sprigs within the hopper to be unloaded by moving the first conveyor in a direction toward the openable gate such that the sprigs contained in the hopper are conveyed from the hopper through the gate.

A sprig planting machine, comprising:

• a) a frame structure;
• b) a sprig holding area;
• c) a first conveyor for receiving sprigs and conveying the sprigs to a discharge point;
• d) a second conveyor disposed on the sprig planting machine for receiving sprigs after the sprigs have been conveyed on the first conveyor and for conveying the sprigs in a direction generally opposite to the direction the sprigs are conveyed on the first conveyor and wherein the second conveyor discharges the sprigs;
• and
• e) two planting options, a first planting option for broadcasting the sprigs and a second planting option for planting the sprigs in rows.

A sprig planting machine having a main frame;

• a hopper for receiving and holding sprigs and having at least a partially open bottom and a surrounding wall structure;
• a first conveyor disposed underneath the hopper and moveable in two directions;
• the hopper including an openable gate that enables sprigs within the hopper to be unloaded by moving the first conveyor in a direction toward the openable gate such that the sprigs contained in the hopper are conveyed from the hopper through the gate;
• and wherein the sprig planting machine further includes two planting options, a broadcast planting option and a row planting option;
• and wherein the sprig planting machine is adapted to receive and support either option.