Polyethylene spunbond nonwoven date-bunch covers are an urgently needed, price-competitive alternative to mesh covers made of synthetic monofilament yarn. They are the first improvement to the ideal date-bunch cover that USDA researchers theorized seventy years ago, by adding dust and mold spore exclusion, yet providing sufficient shade and vapor transmission for proper ripening. Black mold is insignificant even under close tree spacing and wet summer conditions. The lowered temperature and increased humidity inside the cover promotes pliable, smooth skin instead of dry and brittle as commonly occurs with covers made of monofilament mesh fabric. Covers made of polyethylene spunbond nonwoven fabric are lighter, less abrasive, compress easier, and thus are far more user-friendly. Ripe dates can be held on-tree longer than was ever possible before without accumulating dust or losing quality, which renders unnecessary the labor-intensive practice of multiple pickings, and saves cold storage costs.

A frost shield device may include a base having blocks. At least some of the blocks each may define a first through passageway and a second through passageway. The frost shield device may have poles, each pole having a first end to be received by one of the first through passageway and the second through passageway, and a second end. The frost shield device may also include a top ring coupled to the second ends of the poles, and a cover layer configured to extend from the base to the top ring, thereby covering a plant within the base.

An apparatus for planting a seedling (3) in an arid area comprises a vertical, downwardly tapering shroud (20) and a seedling plug (1) comprising a body of growing medium covered by a moisture resistant cap (14) which preferably is sealingly received in a lower region (22) of the shroud. The lower region of the shroud surrounding the upper portion of the seedling is buried beneath ground level (51) with at least one water reservoir (40, 200) and supplied with water via capillary wicks (43), the reservoir being buried beneath ground level and covered by a moisture resistant cover (60) which sealingly surrounds the shroud. The shroud extends above ground level to protect and shade the seedling and together with the cap (14) and cover (60) serves to retain moisture in the planting region for the first year of growth.

This invention relates to a method for coating a plant, comprising the following steps: a) providing a clean plant with a stem and roots; b) coating at least a lower portion of the stem and the roots with a layer of material; and c) arranging the roots to function as support for the stem.

The invention also relates to a plant. The advantage of the invention is that the stem is supported by the roots without the use of pot and earth or other separate support elements.

The present invention provides a system for transporting plant clones that have developed root systems outside solid cultivating media. The transporting system comprises stem collars that hold plant clones. The stem collars are made of biodegradable materials so that plant clones can be transplanted to the field with the collars. The plant clone transporting system also comprises a collar tray to hold stem collars and a portable tank to hold water or solid media that holds water, such as rockwool and perlite, to provide favorable conditions to the root systems of the plant clones, so they can survive a long transportation.

The following invention is a system for protecting tall bamboo plants from winter weather. The system includes several improvements over existing plant covers. It uses a simple method involving a vertical funnel for covering bamboo. A two-piece funnel is clamped around the base of the bamboo. A long strip of fabric with hook and loop on both sides is connected to the bottom of the funnel. The funnel is then pulled by a rope to the top of the bamboo. The hook and loop is fastened around the bamboo while the funnel is raised. A wireless relay allows the funnel and sleeve to be remotely disconnected. For extra cold protection and aesthetic beauty, Christmas lights can easily be included inside the cover.

Shelters for enhancing the growth of trees by protecting tree trunks from damaging sunlight. The shelters include a longitudinal tubular structure having a top edge and a bottom edge. The shelters includes a conduit extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of the shelter. The longitudinal tubular structure may be formed from a polymeric material including a pigment selected to block at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation. The polymeric material including the pigment blocks at least about 30% of electromagnetic radiation at any wavelength from about 200 nm to about 2500 nm.

The invention relates to a plate-shaped structure designed for covering a reservoir, said plate-shaped structure comprises a substantially flat surface and a flange at the periphery of the substantially flat upper surface, wherein the flange comprises plurality of openings designed to receive a protrusion on an exterior sidewall of the reservoir, thereby covering the reservoir. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a reservoir comprising an upwardly extending exterior sidewall comprising outwardly extending protrusion and a plate-shaped structure of the invention wherein the downwardly oriented flange comprises openings designed for receiving one or more protrusions on the upwardly extending exterior sidewall of the reservoir, preferably the assembly being a drinking cup and a cover. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of the plate-shaped structure using a pulp molding process.

The present disclosure relates to a plant protection device having two substantially hemispherical portions, two rim portions, each attached to a perimeter of one of the substantially hemispherical, two connectors capable of attaching the two rim portions and the two substantially hemispherical portions to each other in a substantially a spherical shape, a first opening in one of the two substantially hemispherical portions, and a second opening in one of the two substantially hemispherical portions. The first opening and the second opening may be positioned to accommodate a first and a second portion of branch or plant part, respectively.