Biodegradable Landscape Fabric

Abstract

The present invention relates to a biodegradable landscape fabric comprising spunlaced cellulosic fibers which comprise 0% to 75% wood pulp fibers and 25% to 100% regenerated cellulosic fibers without fiber binding materials and may further comprise a colorant.

1 . A method comprising:
 creating a web of regenerated cellulose fibers;   consolidating the web of regenerated cellulose fibers by spunlacing;   obtaining one or more sheets of wood pulp fiber;   combining the consolidated web of regenerated cellulose fibers and the one or more sheets of wood pulp via spunlacing; and   creating spunlaced cellulosic fibers having opposing surfaces, wherein the opposing surfaces further comprise a wood-pulp rich side and a regenerated cellulose rich side.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises adding a colorant. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the regenerated cellulose fibers are selected from a group consisting of lyocell, rayon, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spunlaced cellulosic fibers are about 25% to about 75% wood pulp fibers and about 25% to about 75% regenerated cellulosic fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spunlaced cellulosic fibers are about 55% softwood pulp and 45% lyocell regenerated cellulosic fiber. 
     
     
         6 . A biodegradable landscape fabric, wherein the fabric comprises:
 a cellulosic fiber comprising about 55% softwood pulp fiber and about 45% lyocell regenerated cellulosic fibers, where in cellulosic fiber is prepared by a process comprising the steps of:   generating a web of lyocell fiber by spunlacing, wherein the web is about 32 g/m2;   feeding at least one sheet of the softwood pulp fiber atop the web of lyocell creating a combined web/sheet structure;   spunlacing the combined web/sheet structure to form the biodegradable landscape fabric with a basis weight of about 71 g/m2.   
     
     
         7 . A biodegradable landscape fabric comprising:
 spunlaced cellulosic fibers, wherein the spunlaced cellulosic fibers further comprise:
 about 0% to about 75% wood pulp; 
 about 25% to about 100% regenerated cellulosic fibers; and 
   a colorant.   
     
     
         8 . The biodegradable landscape fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the biodegradable landscape fabric is biodegradable over a single growing season. 
     
     
         9 . The biodegradable landscape fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the regenerated cellulose fibers are selected from a group consisting of lyocell, rayon, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The biodegradable landscape fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the spunlaced cellulose fibers are about 25% to about 75% wood pulp fibers and about 25% to about 75% regenerated cellulosic fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The biodegradable landscape fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the spunlaced cellulosic fibers are about 55% softwood pulp and 45% lyocell regenerated cellulosic fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The biodegradable landscape fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the spunlaced cellulosic fibers have opposing surfaces, wherein the opposing surfaces further comprise a wood-pulp rich side and a regenerated cellulose rich side. 
     
     
         13 . The biodegradable landscape fabric of  claim 12 , wherein the wood-pulp rich side is placed in an upward position when in use. 
     
     
         14 . The biodegradable landscape fabric of  claim 12 , wherein the regenerated cellulose rich side is placed in an upward position when in use.