A seedmat for growing plants, the seedmat comprises a biodegradable base layer, a seed layer and a biodegradable cover layer. The seed layer includes fertilizer granules or pellets that each have a coating, such as a polymer coating, that enables the pellets to absorb water and to slowly release that water, together with fertilizer.

To provide a vegetation sheet which requires no soil as a base of cultivation of Sunagoke grown seedlings and enables the cultivation of Sunagoke grown seedlings in a stable state even in a severe environment such as on a steep slope or in a strong wind. A vegetation sheet 1-1 comprises a surface layer 10 in which Sunagoke grown seedlings 30 are laid and a core layer 20 which allows rhizoids 30a of the Sunagoke grown seedlings 30 extending with growth to enter downward therein. The core layer 20 has a rough netlike structure which has spaces having an aperture size equal to or larger than the thickness of each rhizoid 30a so as to allow the rhizoids 30a to enter therethrough.

To provide a vegetation sheet which requires no soil as a base of cultivation of Sunagoke grown seedlings and enables the cultivation of Sunagoke grown seedlings in a stable state even in a severe environment such as on a steep slope or in a strong wind. A vegetation sheet 1-1 comprises a surface layer 10 in which Sunagoke grown seedlings 30 are laid and a core layer 20 which allows rhizoids 30a of the Sunagoke grown seedlings 30 extending with growth to enter downward therein. The core layer 20 has a rough netlike structure which has spaces having an aperture size equal to or larger than the thickness of each rhizoid 30a so as to allow the rhizoids 30a to enter therethrough.

A method and apparatus for cultivating vegetation at an inhospitable location includes rooting immature vegetation in a mat combined with a super absorbent polymer (“SAP”) and, in embodiments, fertilizer, sand, and/or soil; providing a water reservoir below grade at the inhospitable location; placing the mat at the inhospitable location over the water reservoir; extending at least one wick from the mat to the water reservoir; and covering the mat with a perforated, transparent or semi-transparent cover. The wick can be infused with nutrients and/or fertilizer. Hollow tubes can extend downward from the mat to enable excess water to flow into the reservoir. The hollow tubes can surround the wicks. The transparent cover can be placed on or suspended above the mat. SAP, seeds, and/or fertilizer can be placed between mats in a stack. A water distribution system can be included for supplying additional water to the water reservoir.

A method and apparatus for cultivating vegetation at an inhospitable location includes rooting immature vegetation in a mat combined with a super absorbent polymer (“SAP”) and, in embodiments, fertilizer, sand, and/or soil; providing a water reservoir below grade at the inhospitable location; placing the mat at the inhospitable location over the water reservoir; extending at least one wick from the mat to the water reservoir; and covering the mat with a perforated, transparent or semi-transparent cover. The wick can be infused with nutrients and/or fertilizer. Hollow tubes can extend downward from the mat to enable excess water to flow into the reservoir. The hollow tubes can surround the wicks. The transparent cover can be placed on or suspended above the mat. SAP, seeds, and/or fertilizer can be placed between mats in a stack. A water distribution system can be included for supplying additional water to the water reservoir.

A coir pellet has coconut pith mixed with at least one other material, and binder mixed into the coconut pith, wherein the coconut pith, at least one other material and the binder are compressed at a ratio of at least 3:1. A method of producing coir pellets includes conditioning coconut pith and at least one other material to produce conditioned material, first compressing the conditioned material to produce pellets of a first size at a first compression ratio, at least a second compressing the pellets of a first sized to produce pellets of at least a second size at a second compression ratio, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size, and the second compression ratio is higher than the first compression ratio, polishing the pellets of at least a second size to produce polished pellets, and drying the polished pellets to produce the coir pellets.

A coir pellet has coconut pith mixed with at least one other material, and binder mixed into the coconut pith, wherein the coconut pith, at least one other material and the binder are compressed at a ratio of at least 3:1. A method of producing coir pellets includes conditioning coconut pith and at least one other material to produce conditioned material, first compressing the conditioned material to produce pellets of a first size at a first compression ratio, at least a second compressing the pellets of a first sized to produce pellets of at least a second size at a second compression ratio, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size, and the second compression ratio is higher than the first compression ratio, polishing the pellets of at least a second size to produce polished pellets, and drying the polished pellets to produce the coir pellets.

A turf surface (80) comprising: (a) a reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); (b) a removable root-permeable backing (60) located beneath the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); (c) a layer of growth media (42) located on the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); and (d) natural grass plants (30) having roots (32) extending downwardly through the layer of growth media (42) and the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10) and the removable root-permeable backing (60); wherein, in use, prior to being laid at a destination site, the removable root-permeable backing (60) is separated from the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10), so that any roots (34) which engage with and extend through the removable root-permeable backing (60) are substantially removed from the turf surface (80).

A turf surface (80) comprising: (a) a reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); (b) a removable root-permeable backing (60) located beneath the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); (c) a layer of growth media (42) located on the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10); and (d) natural grass plants (30) having roots (32) extending downwardly through the layer of growth media (42) and the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10) and the removable root-permeable backing (60); wherein, in use, prior to being laid at a destination site, the removable root-permeable backing (60) is separated from the reinforcing root-permeable mat (10), so that any roots (34) which engage with and extend through the removable root-permeable backing (60) are substantially removed from the turf surface (80).

A coir pellet of coconut pith mixed with granulated hard shell crumbs compressed into a pellet at a compression ratio of at least 3:1, the pellet being a sphere made of two half-spheres pressed together.