Gardening blanket with integral watering system

Abstract

A blanket with an integral watering system covers the ground associated with a garden and assists in delivering water thereto. The blanket is provided by first and second sheets of material, at least one of said sheets of material being porous. The sheets are interconnected together and form an intermediate space for receiving at least a first conduit for conveying the water to the ground through the porous sheet of material. The first conduit may comprise layflat hose. Preferably, a plurality of channels are formed in the space, each for receiving a second conduit, such as a drip tape or like perforated hose, connected to the first conduit. The first conduit may extend in a first or longitudinal direction of the blanket, and the second conduits may extend in a second, transverse direction.

1 . A blanket for covering the ground associated with a garden and assisting in delivering water thereto, said blanket comprising first and second sheets of material, at least one of said sheets of material being porous, interconnected together and forming an intermediate space between the sheets of material, and at least a first conduit provided in the space for conveying the water to the ground through the porous sheet of material. 
   
   
       2 . The blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet of material comprises a nonwoven fabric. 
   
   
       3 . The blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet of material is substantially opaque. 
   
   
       4 . The blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the second sheet of material comprises a nonwoven fabric. 
   
   
       5 . The blanket of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of channels in the space, each occupied by a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit. 
   
   
       6 . The blanket of  claim 1 , wherein the sheets of material have a first and second orthogonal directions, the first conduit extending in the first direction and each second conduit extending in the second direction. 
   
   
       7 . The blanket of  claim 6 , wherein the first conduit comprises layflat hose and each second conduit comprises drip tape. 
   
   
       8 . The blanket of  claim 6 , further including a connector for connecting each second conduit to the first conduit. 
   
   
       9 . The blanket of  claim 6 , wherein the channels are spaced apart a distance corresponding to a row of plants in the garden. 
   
   
       10 . The blanket of  claim 1 , further including a pressure reducer associated with the first conduit and adapted for coupling with a source of water. 
   
   
       11 . A method of using a roll of the blanket of  claim 1 , comprising unrolling the blanket to a predetermined length and cutting both the blanket and the first conduit. 
   
   
       12 . A blanket for covering the ground associated with a garden and assisting in delivering water thereto, said blanket comprising:
 first and second interconnected sheets of material having a plurality of spaced channels formed therebetween, at least one of said sheets of material being porous;   at least one first conduit positioned in each said channel; and   a second conduit connected and extending transverse to the at least one first conduit.   
   
   
       13 . The blanket of  claim 12 , wherein the second conduit comprises layflat hose and each first conduit comprises drip tape. 
   
   
       14 . The blanket of  claim 12 , further including a connector for connecting the first and second conduits. 
   
   
       15 . The blanket of  claim 12 , further including a pressure reducer associated with a first end of the second conduit and adapted for coupling with a source of water. 
   
   
       16 . The blanket of  claim 12 , wherein the channels are spaced apart a distance corresponding to a row of plants in the garden. 
   
   
       17 . A method of manufacturing a blanket for covering the ground associated with a garden and assisting in delivering water thereto, comprising:
 providing first and second interconnected sheets of material together so as to form an intermediate space therebetween, at least one of said sheets of material being porous; and   providing at least a first conduit in the space between the sheets of material for conveying the water to the ground through the porous material.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the steps of:
 forming a plurality of channels in the space; and   inserting a hose in each channel.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including the step of interconnecting each hose to the first conduit. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of placing a hose for carrying water in the first conduit.