Abstract A grass product that is substantially protected against or free from insect infestation as by certain soil grubs or the like and method for manufacturing the same. The grass product may be manufactured as sod or grassland and cut into suitable units to be transported and used as a covering for lawns, terraces and the like previously prepared to accept them. Alternately, the grass product may be manufactured on top of existing sod such as in a lawn. The grass product comprises an upper layer of rooting material, a lower layer of sod or rooting material containing grass roots and/or seeds, and a nondegradable screen of a predetermined mesh size interposed between the upper and lower layers. The screen has a predetermined mesh size which prevents insects larger than the mesh from passing from the upper layer into the lower layer and vice versa. The grass blades existing in the sod or formed by germination of the seeds travel upwardly through the screen and upper layer, and the grass roots travel downwardly into the lower layer to form the grass product. Since the roots are below the screen, any insects larger than the mesh size are prevented from passing from the upper layer into the lower layer to eat the roots or to lay eggs which subsequently hatch as root-feeding larvae, and residual insects in the sod are prevented from passing through the screen to the surface of the upper layer.
A method for establishing a grass land in which the grass roots are protected from root-feeding grubs hatched from eggs laid by insects such as European Chafers and Japanese Beetles comprising: preparing a lower layer of rooting material which may contain grass seed; covering said lower layer with a nondegradable screen having a predetermined mesh size for preventing insects larger than said predetermined mesh size from passing through said screen into said lower layer to lay eggs, and residual grubs hatched from eggs in said lower layer from burrowing from said lower layer through said upper layer to form insects; and distributing an upper layer of rooting material over said screen whereby, upon germination of said grass seeds, the grass blades travel upwardly through said upper layer and the grass roots travel downwardly into said lower layer in a direction away from said screen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for establishing a grass land in which the grass roots are protected from root-feeding grubs hatched from eggs laid by insects such as European Chafers and Japanese Beetles comprising: preparing a lower layer of rooting material which may contain grass seed; covering said lower layer with a nondegradable screen having a predetermined mesh size for preventing insects larger than said predetermined mesh size from passing through said screen into said lower layer to lay eggs, and residual grubs hatched from eggs in said lower layer from burrowing from said lower layer through said upper layer to form insects; and distributing an upper layer of rooting material over said screen whereby, upon germination of said grass seeds, the grass blades travel upwardly through said upper layer and the grass roots travel downwardly into said lower layer in a direction away from said screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said mesh size is substantially 1/8 inch, and the lower surface of said screen lies substantially in one plane, and said grass seeds and roots formed by said grass seeds lie below said one plane.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for protecting an existing grassland containing grass roots from root-feeding grubs hatched from eggs laid by insects such as European Chafers and Japanese Beetles comprising: cutting the grass on the grassland as short as possible; dethatching the grassland to remove all grass clippings and dead grass; covering the grassland with a nondegradable screen having a predetermined mesh size; and distributing an upper layer of rooting material over said screen whereby insects larger than said predetermined mesh size are prevented from passing through said upper layer and said screen into the roots of said grassland to lay eggs which hatch into grubs which eat said grass roots, and residual grubs hatched from eggs in said grassland are prevented from passing through said screen and said upper layer to change into insects.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for protecting an existing grassland containing grass roots from root-feeding grubs hatched from eggs laid by insects such as European Chafers and Japanese Beetles comprising: cutting the grass on the grassland as short as possible; dethatching the grassland to remove all grass clippings and dead grass; covering the grassland with a nondegradable screen having a predetermined mesh size; and distributing an upper layer of rooting material over said screen whereby insects larger than said predetermined mesh size are prevented from passing through said upper layer and said screen into the roots of said grassland to lay eggs which hatch into grubs which eat said grass roots, and residual grubs hatched from eggs in said grassland are prevented from passing through said screen and said upper layer to change into insects.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said mesh size is substantially 1/8, and the lower surface of said screen lies substantially in one plane, and said grass roots lie below said one plane.