Method of accelerating the growth and development of trees via enhanced root development

• US 7,308,775 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Judy Lovelace, Wayne Lovelace
• Original Assignee: Forrest Keeling Nursery, Inc.
• Inventors: Lovelace, Wayne, Steavenson, Hugh, Suddarth, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): IBRAHIM, MEDINA AHMED
• Application Number:
  US10/216,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 47/58, 47/581.R, 800/298
• US Class Current: 47/58.10R
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/00 Forestry
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/028 Multi-compartmented pots
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/029 Receptacles for seedlings growth substrates in block form A01G24/44

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of developing tree seedlings comprising germinating the seeds on a growing medium and air pruning the roots of the seedlings to a depth of about 3 inches.

Claims

1. A method of developing tree seedlings comprising

germinating seeds on a surface of growing medium to obtain the seedlings;

and air pruning the seedling roots at a depth of 3 inches to achieve an improved root mass, wherein the growing medium comprises 35% composted rice hulls, 35% pine bark, 20% sand, 10% manure, and 35% air space.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of air pruning the roots comprises growing the seedlings in bottomless flats at a height of between about 30 inches and about 36 inches above the ground.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the growing medium further comprises micronutrients and a wetting agent.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the growing medium is inoculated with mycorrhizae spores.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising transplanting the seedlings after a first air pruning step into containers of about 3 9/16 inches by 3 9/16 inches by 4¼

inches for a second root air pruning step.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising stratifying the seeds on the growing medium at 32 degrees F.

6. A method of improving the root structure of tree seedlings, the method comprising placing seeds on a surface of a growing medium comprising 35% composted rice hulls, 35% pine bark, 20% sand, 10% manure, and 35% air space;

germinating the seeds on the growing medium to obtain the seedlings; and

subjecting the seedlings to a first air root pruning by growing the seedlings in a bottomless container of about 3 inches deep, and a second air root pruning by growing the seedlings in a bottomless container of about 4¼

inches deep.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein subjecting the seedlings to an air root pruning comprises supporting the container at a height of between about 30 inches and 36 inches above the ground.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising stratifying the seeds on the growing medium at 32 degrees F.

10. A method of developing tree seedlings comprising the steps of:

selecting seeds based on seed weight;

combining 35% composted rice hulls, 35% pine bark, 20% sand and 10% manure to obtain a growing medium having a 35% air space;

placing the growing medium in a first open-bottom container to a depth of 3 inches;

placing the seeds on the growing medium;

stratifying the seeds on the growing medium at 32 degrees F;

germinating the stratified seeds on the growing medium to obtain the seedlings;

allowing roots of the seedlings to undergo a first air pruning at the 3-inch depth and at a height of between about 30 and 36 inches above the ground;

transplanting the air-pruned seedlings to a second open-bottom container to a depth of 4¼

inches; and

allowing the seedlings to undergo a second root air pruning at the 4¼

-inch depth and at a height of between about 30 and 36 inches above the ground.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising inoculating the growing medium with mycorrhizal spores.