Abstract: A pruning system (1; 20) for planting rows (F) includes a frame (2) suited to support a pruning assembly (3; 30). The pruning assembly (3; 30) includes a first pruning assembly (3) in which it is possible to identify a plurality of cutting units (4) that are independent of and spaced from one another, the cutting units (4) being mechanically associated with the frame (2) through a plurality of first supporting rods (6) suited to allow the movement of the cutting units (4) according to an orthogonal direction with respect to the alignment direction of the planting rows (F). The supporting frame (2) can be associated with structure (7) for moving the frame (2) and the pruning assembly (3; 30) that are suited to make the pruning assembly (3; 30) assume different operating positions according to a parallel direction with respect to the alignment direction of the planting rows (F).

Abstract: A desired geometry of a plant is achieved in a simple way by means of a method for shaping one or more plants, whereby a dimensionally stable shaping device is used to delimit a growth space for the plant. The shaping device comprises at least one light permeable shaping element. Once shaping is complete the shaping device is removed.

Abstract: A device for cultivating a crop, such as a tree or plant, includes a rotary body which is rotatable about an axis of rotation. At least one cutting member is provided, which is fastened to the rotary body in such a way that the cutting member, during the rotation of the rotary body, defines a substantially circular path. The cutting member is configured in such a way that a crop located radially within the path can be cultivated along said the path.

Abstract: A method of shaping a portion of a woody plant into a desired form is provided. The method is effected by providing a root of a woody plant, shaping the root into the desired form and culturing the root under conditions suitable for secondary thickening of the root.

Abstract: A unitized mat to facilitate growing woody plants includes at least two polymeric material layers, an inlet for delivery of fluid, and at least one outlet for dispensing fluid into an area covered by at least one layer. There is an opening in the layers through which the plant extends along with an installation seam with overlapping ends. The mat includes perforations, aligned or off-set, for fluid outlets and may be used in a container, such that a polymeric material layer covers the surface thereof. Flexible extension flaps adjust for container size and shape. The mat is removably affixed to a container and/or can be fed by a water-filled container with a polymeric material layer integral with the container. The mat may be used for woody plants in a row, such as orchard applications. Extension flaps provide continuous cover around and between plants, and perforations provide anchors for fixable positioning.

Abstract: A gardening ornament frame has a first half netting, a second half netting engaging with the first half netting, a first hollow leg disposed on a bottom of the first half netting, and a second hollow leg disposed on a bottom of the second half netting. The first half netting has a first periphery. The second half netting has a second periphery. The first hollow leg has a first bottom opening. The second hollow leg has a second bottom opening.

Abstract: A process for making an artificial soil includes first combining the volume percentages of the following substances: 1-99% materials suitable for use as a blending base; 1-99% cellulose; 0.01-60% bio-solids; 0.01-10% calcium in any form; 0.01-10% charcoal or it's equivalents; and 0.05-5% ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, or calcium nitrate. The above substances are ground until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, after which the artificial soil can be either blended in place or manufactured at one location and transported to another location for use.

Abstract: A process for making an artificial soil includes first combining the volume percentages of the following substances: 5-95% materials suitable for use as a blending base; 5-95% cellulose; 0.5-50% bio-solids; 0.1-10% calcium; 0.1-5% charcoal; and 0.5-4% ammonium nitrate or sulfate. The above substances are ground until a homogeneous mixture is obtained, after which the artificial soil can be either blended in place or manufactured at one location and transported to another location for use.

Abstract: A method for producing a ready-to-plant live fence unit includes providing an elongated container containing a growing medium, planting within the container at least two plants, and cultivating the plants to grow in an interlocked manner to a substantially uniform approximate desired height so as to form a ready-to-plant live fence unit. Preferably, the cultivation includes treating the plants with a chemical pruning agent so as to limit their vertical growth to the approximate desired height. The method also preferably includes providing a vertical trellis adjacent to the container, and treating the plants with a growth regulator which accelerates growth. In an alternative implementation, the live fence unit may be produced even from a single plant cultivated asymmetrically to have a length which is at least about three times its width.

Abstract: A vine cane pruner has a frame with four hedgers mounted on the frame. First and third hedgers are mounted on opposite sides of the frame with cutting teeth extending forwardly. Gathering mechanisms mounted on the first and third hedgers engage vertical canes on opposite sides of the vine and draw the engaged vertical canes into the cutting teeth of the first and third hedgers. Second and fourth hedgers are mounted on opposite sides of the frame and rearwardly of the first and third hedgers with cutting teeth extending forwardly. Gathering mechanisms mounted on the second and fourth hedgers engage the horizontal canes on opposite sides of the vine and draw the engaged horizontal canes into the cutting teeth of the second and fourth hedgers. A telescoping mast connected between the frame and a transport vehicle supports the frame and permits it to be selectively raised and lowered.

Abstract: A method of farming in which plants are grown on a land mass adjacent to a body of water so that separated plant parts such as apples fall into the water and are harvested from the water. The land mass is sloped so that the plant parts are encouraged to enter the water. The body of water is contained in uniform canals and can be used for raising aquatic food products such as fish. Locks or a flow tube are used to interconnect water at different levels. Food products are harvested from the water using a boat, a conveyor or a water elevator which has a tube for receiving food product from the water and lifting it to a fluid displacement container using a pressurized fluid. The fluid displacement container reduces the length of fall of food product by providing a liquid surface near the top of the container. As the liquid is displaced by the food product, it leaves the container through a drain located near the top of the container.

Abstract: To make an artificial topsoil combine by hand or in a blending machine, by volume, either dredged river silt, sand or basalt, and cellulose from recycled paper or yard waste, with composted animal or human waste for general reclamation and cereal crops, or vegetable or fruit residuals for gardens or potting soil, and then add calcium in the form of calcium silicate as slag or lime and ammonium nitrate or sulfate mixed with water, and then charcoal or equivalent amount of phosphorus, sodium, and sulfur as are present in charcoal. This combination of material replicates the calcium base, decaying cellulose, silt and animal or vegetable waste structure of natural soils.Various soil types can be duplicated by adjusting the base content of sand, silt, or basalt and rearranging the nutrient and mineral content to compensate for differing levels of each, for example: calcium and organic percentages should be increased to maximum when using sand as a base.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for maintenance of moisture level throughout a topiary. A plurality of fluid containers disposed at different vertical levels are mounted to a metal topiary frame. The containers each contain a wick that is used to transport fluid from the containers to topiary filler material which is bound to the metal topiary frame. Each container acts to passively regulate the level of moisture content in a region of the container through wick action. Ivy may be planted on the exterior surfaces of the topiary filler material, which may be a moss material.

Abstract: Horticulture, particularly limb spreaders. Applicant's variable length limb-spreader may be interposed between the tree central leader and the outwardly extending limbs at a variety of lengths, for example, 3", 6", 9", 12", 15", 18" and 22". Applicant's molded plastic device includes an elongate shaft having pairs of divergent tree-engaging arms at each end and a plurality of outwardly extending limb-engaging struts extending from the top and bottom of the shaft. Tree-engaging spikes may be molded so as to extend between the pairs of arms, as well as between the struts and the top and bottom of the elongate shaft.

Abstract: A method for plant culture including the steps of growing plants, which produce elongated flexible portions, in supported relation on a structure; permitting the flexible portions to grow; and moving the flexible portions substantially into predetermined positions relative to the plants for subsequent plant cultural practices. An apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be disposed adjacent to the plants and having a laterally projecting portion; and a mechanism for moving the flexible portions of the plants into positions overlaying the support portion of the frame extending laterally of the plants.

Abstract: The invention relates to cultivation of a rose plant in a greenhouse and the like which is capable of growing a rose so that an object twig with a flower can be cut in about a waist-high position, and picking cut flowers with long stems and of a high quality. In the invention, initially grown twigs are bent in the vicinity of the plant foot and kept prostrated, and basal shoots coming out from the position near said foot are grown into twigs. Then, the twigs with flowers are cut off at the base portion thereof to obtain the initial cut flowers.

Abstract: A heart-shaped, free standing, living plant comprises at least two living plants, a left plant and a right plant, formed into opposed lobes forming the heart configuration. Each plant comprises a root end, an intermediate trunk section and a foliage end. The root ends are secured together and the intermediate trunk sections form the left lobe and right lobe respectively. The foliage ends extend laterally outwardly from the downwardly depending intermediate trunk sections to form a foliage midsection of the heart-shaped plant. A support means is provided during the initial growing period wherein the heart-shaped plant is permanently formed. Thereafter, the support means can be removed to form a free-standing, unsupported living plant.

Abstract: Easily assembled and disassembled topiary forms for defining the three-dimensional body-shape of a predetermined object. The topiary forms are readily assembled or disassembled for easy transport or mailing.

Abstract: A tree shaping apparatus includes a mobile transport (10) with a cutter carriage (12) disposed in thereof. The transport (10) straddles the trees and the cutter carriage (12) has the height thereof adjusted to that of the tree. A cutter bar (90) is rotated about the tree with blades (92) providing the shaping therefor. The cutter bar (90) can be reciprocated laterally to provide an additional height adjustment.

Abstract: This trimming apparatus is conveniently mounted on a vehicle. It has a conveyor that includes belts that push the potted plants along a wall so as to rotate the plants while at the same time the plants are passed by the cutters. Thus the entire periphery of the plant is trimmed.

Abstract: An umbrella-shaped topiary framework has a supporting post simulating natural wood bark along its outer surface, at the upper end of which is supported an umbrella-like framework upon the top of which is received a circular umbrella pad fabricated of face-to-face sheets of plastic, open-mesh sun screening material sandwiching thereinbetween a layer of sphagnum moss. The supporting post as well as the umbrella-like framework are comprised of interfitting parts of a molded synthetic plastic material for compact storage and transportation, and durability in use. When vertically supported in soil at the base of the supporting post, vines or climbing plants rooted in the soil grow up along the outside of the post and under and over the umbrella pad at the top of the post to form an unusually attractive umbrella topiary.

Abstract: A method of cultivating fruit bearing trees which involves the use of frame supported training wires, tapes or the like which extend row wise down either side of trees within a different row. Row wise extending members are provided so that a twin leader tree has each leader with oppositely and row wise directed supported laterals at preferably four levels. In addition each lateral has extending outwardly therefrom and supported by further row wise extending wires, tapes or the like fruiting branches from the laterals which by a combination of weaving over or under the same become progressively enmeshed therewith and thus are supported in a layer manner which will ensure an increased yield but at the same time facilitate the machine harvesting of any such fruit.

Abstract: A system for growing and harvesting perennial, hedge-type, harvestable plants is provided which permits greater utilization of sunlight for photosynthesis, more efficient use of the land, and control of evapotranspiration through wind control. The plants are in rows, running in a substantially east-west direction, and are cut and harvested so that their "sun" surface(s) is not horizontal, but, rather, faces the direction of the sun's rays during the peak growing time of the day throughout the prime growing season of the year. The surface is generally cut to expose a maximum growing surface of the plant to sunlight and in this sense is analogous to solar collectors in solar home or hot water heating systems. The rows of plants are so spaced relative to adjacent rows to permit sunlight to fall on most of the planar surface of the hedge, but such that one row will not cast a dense shadow on a portion of another row.

Abstract: A group of topiary framing members, each carried separately by a planter or flower pot, the pots or planters slideably assembled into a group for contiguous support, one planter by the next. The exposed parts of each plant have a color distinct from an adjacent plant and are supported by a planter separable from the group for trimming to a selected shape provided by the topiary framing member, so that the assembly of topiary frames and plants thereon forms a composite design of trimmed shape, each individual plant of the assembly growing from a separate planter. The group of composite framing members are in the form of an ornamental object, such as animal or person or other, having the appearance of an ornamental single statuary composite, and the plants thereof grow as a group while their planters are separable easily for trimming of the plants, such as slideably, and are then reassembled into the ornamental composite.

Abstract: A method for constructing a shrubbery shaper for shaping plants and shrubs into a desired three dimensional form which includes the steps of tracing a suitable pattern in the configuration of an object which will form the shape of the shrubbery shaper; cutting a quantity of open mesh wire to a selected width and length to form a frame; shaping the open mesh wire into the pattern configuration; shaping side panels in the pattern configuration for attachment to the frame; planting suitable shrubbery at a selected location and spacing; and placing the shrubbery shaper over the planted shrubbery and securing it to the ground.