GB2431851A - Underground water reservoir for plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A reservoir 1a is buried underground in the close vicinity of the root system of a tree 5. An irrigation pipe 4 provides a means of maintaining the water level in the reservoir. A root 2 or a portion of the root system may be placed in the container to keep a newly planted tree suitably hydrated. The reservoir may be installed with a lid, or be open topped allowing water to disperse upward through the soil by capillary action thus irrigating the surrounding area. The reservoir may be biodegradable.

Description

<p>1 2431851 Environmental tree/plant hydration system This invention

relates to an underground water reservoir that has a root or portion of the root system of a plant or tree placed into it.</p>

<p>A tree will struggle to survive or die without sufficient water. Existing methods of keeping the plant with enough water to survive until the root system develops sufficiently use a lot of water and labour. Trees on streets and places they are grown are often too dry for a tree to establish without continual care. Rain, water from management, irrigation, and subterranean water percolates away through earth and substrate and is lost.</p>

<p>To overcome this, the present invention proposes a receptacle for retaining water from irrigation underground. Acting as a reservoir it will have a portion of the root system of the tree placed into it. It will save water and labour. It may be installed using the pit dug for a new tree or installed adjacent to a newly planted or existing tree.</p>

<p>The invention will ensure a subterranean supply of water for a developing tree, allowing roots to establish and ultimately find enough naturally occurring water; ultimately the reservoir will become redundant.</p>

<p>Preferably the reservoir is a substantial collecting receptacle with a portion of the toot placed in it, the rest of the root system being installed in the usual way. The reservoir has a volume suitable for the successful establishment of a plant. As the root grows it will fill the reservoir and diminish the amount of water stored. As this happens other roots will grow into the surrounding substrate maintaining equilibrium the tree can survive with.</p>

<p>The reservoir will become redundant as a tree puts out sufficient roots and establish a natural supply of water sufficient to sustain it. The reservoir may be biodegradable.</p>

<p>Preferably the growth of the root in the reservoir may be restrained by meshing or the reservoir may be filled with material substrate or absorbent or porous materials to prevent root growth filling the reservoir diminishing its volume too quickly. Filling the reservoir with material will prevent it collapsing where a membrane or insubstantial receptacle is used. The reservoir may be installed using the same pit dug fot the tree.</p>

<p>Preferably the reservoir is filled with water using an irrigation pipe or gully or naturally occurring water. The reservoir may be used to feed and medicate a plant.</p>

<p>The reservoir can stay in the ground to act as a backup supply in times of drought. A stick may be used to test its contents.</p>

<p>The reservoir system will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1. Shows a tree without sufficient water supply.</p>

<p>Fig 2. Shows a tree with a contained subterranean reservoir.</p>

<p>Fig 3. Shows examples of reservoir.</p>

<p>Fig 4. Shows a tree planted beside a road with 2 reservoirs, one open one contained.</p>

<p>Fig 5. Shows tree planted amongst urban surfaces.</p>

<p>In figure 1, A tree is shown with inadequate water supply. 0.1 are stunted roots, 0.2.</p>

<p>leafless branches.</p>

<p>In figure 2, a tree 5 is shown with a root system. A reservoir 1 a is shown below ground level G and 2 is a portion of the root system of the tree placed into the reservoir. 3 is a representation of inadequate rainfall, 4 is an irrigation pipe. The reservoir I a has a volume.v. suitable for the sire of tree.</p>

<p>Placing a root or portion of the root system in the water filled reservoir keeps a newly planted tree hydrated. This is particularly important where a tree is planted in places short of water, an and environment, under urban surfaces, areas with little rainfall or soil that does not retain water. A tree naturally takes time to establish and grow from seed; they are often grown artificially and are installed in places they would not naturally be able to establish. By installing a reservoir of sufficient volume and placing a root in the water it gives a plant a reliable source of water to grow and establish more roots and seek out naturally available water.</p>

<p>Figure 3, Shows embodiments of reservoir and water collection devices. Pipes gullies and possible configuration are shown. One or more can be utilised depending on the situation of the site a tree is planted to take advantage of any available water from irrigation or naturally occurring reliable sources of water.</p>

<p>Examples of open reservoirs are show 20,21,22,23, that will prevent water leeching away down through substrate and keep an area adjacent to it hydrated. Roots grow to exploit the retained water, which will disperse through capillary action, upward, as the surrounding ground dries after a period of wet.</p>

<p>Other examples are encapsulated reservoirs 24,25, supplied by pipe where a systematic watering regimen is preferred.</p>

<p>Figure 4, Shows a tree beside a road where urban surfaces prevent water absorption into the soil, a root 2, is placed into a contained reservoir lb to depth d, and in addition another root is shown going into open reservoir 1 c, to the side e More than one reservoir can be used and the depth d and orientation e, varied to utilise and store available water where the roots can reach when the plant is young. The receptacle/s allow root growth around them so the tree or plant can establish itself and its root system grow having the reservoir/s helping support growth when the plant is young, as the root system matures the reservoir becomes redundant.</p>

<p>Figure 5, Shows a tree set in urban surface with a semicircular collection channel 6 Irrigation pipe 7, installed around the base of the tree collecting water into the reservoir ld. The irrigation water, available subterranean water and collected rainfall are being combined for greatest effect.</p>

Claims (1)

1. <p>Claims 1. A water receptacle buried in the ground to retain water from

   irrigation where a plant root can access it.</p>

   <p>2. A water receptacle according to claim I comprising a receptacle with access for water conduit and root 3. A water receptacle according to claim 1,2 in which depth and orientation of instillation collect water from rainfall and run off from urban surfaces.</p>

   <p>4. A water receptacle configuration of receptacle/s according to claim I and 2 in which more than one receptacle and attached water conduit are used to collect water from irrigation, rainfall, leeching or flow for a plant.</p>

   <p>5. A water receptacle system according to preceding claims in which roots grow and establish naturally alongside the receptacle and adjoining gullies and pipes.</p>

   <p>6. A water receptacle according to preceding claims utilised to feed and medicate a plant.</p>

   <p>7. A water receptacle according to claims 1,2,3 having an open top allowing upward capillary movement of water.</p>

   <p>8. A water receptacle according to claims 1,2,3 being closed and contained.</p>

   <p>9. A water receptacle as claimed in preceding claims which is made of wood metal plastics material or from a combination of these.</p>

   <p>10. A water receptacle substantially as herein described above and illustrated in accompanying drawings.</p>