Modular growing panel system and method for covering structures with vegetation

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention include a modular growing panel system for attaching vegetation to a surface of a structure. In one aspects, the modular growing panel system includes a growing substrate with a plurality of layers formed into a tile that is rigid and self-supportive of vegetation being grown in the growing substrate and a binder attaching one or more of the tiles to each other and forming the modular growing panel system. In another aspect, the modular growing panel system includes a growing substrate with a plurality of layers formed into a tile that is rigid and self-supportive of vegetation being grown in the growing substrate and a framework for holding and attaching one or more tiles to the structure created from a upper channel and having a slot that corresponds to the depth of the tile and a lower channel and having a slot corresponding to the depth of the tile. Yet another implementation of the modular growing panel system includes a growing substrate with a plurality of layers formed into a tile that is rigid and self-supportive of vegetation being grown in the growing substrate, a framework for holding and attaching one or more tiles to the structure created from a upper channel with an upper flange and having a slot that corresponds to the depth of the tile and a lower channel with a lower flange and having a slot corresponding to the depth of the tile; and upper molding to be affixed to the surface of the structure having a groove disposed to receive the upper flange of the upper channel of the framework and a lower molding to be affixed to the surface of the structure having groove disposed to receive the lower flange of the lower channel of the framework.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular growing panel system for attaching vegetation to a surface of a structure, comprising:
 a growing substrate with a plurality of layers formed into a tile that is rigid and self-supportive of vegetation being grown in the growing substrate; and   a framework for holding and attaching one or more tiles to the structure created from a upper channel and having a slot that corresponds to the depth of the tile and a lower channel and having a slot corresponding to the depth of the tile.   
     
     
         2 . The modular system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of layers includes a rigid grid creating further rigidity in the growing substrate and further supportive of the growing substrate and plants growing therein. 
     
     
         3 . The modular system of  claim 1 , the plurality of layers of the growing substrate including a protective layer on the top that resists breakdown from ultra-violet (UV) radiation and erosion due to wind and other forces while promoting moisture retention in lower layers and disposed to receive a starter plant and root through an insertion area in the protective layer, a growing media layer below the protective layer wherein the growing media layer is formed with a homogenous mixture of earth materials and plant nutrients distributed through a binding material that cures creating air pockets that receives the root of the starter plant and retains air, moisture and nutrients and a barrier layer below the growing media layer that provides a root barrier to reduce the growth of roots below the barrier layer and acts as a filter for water passing through the growing substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The modular system of  claim 2  wherein the binding material in the growing media layer includes a synthetic foam material that stabilizes the earth materials and plant nutrients while also providing rigidity and overall support to the growing substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The modular system of  claim 1  wherein the upper channel is aligned in parallel to the lower channel separated by a distance corresponding to a width of the tile and disposed to slidably receive the tile along the slot in the upper channel and the slot in the lower channel. 
     
     
         6 . The modular system of  claim 1  wherein a substantial area of the weather protective layer remains uncovered by the framework and available to receive a plurality of the starter vegetation. 
     
     
         7 . A modular growing panel system for attaching vegetation to a surface of a structure, comprising:
 a growing substrate with a plurality of layers formed into a tile that is rigid and self-supportive of vegetation being grown in the growing substrate;   a framework for holding and attaching one or more tiles to the structure created from a upper channel with an upper flange and having a slot that corresponds to the depth of the tile and a lower channel with a lower flange and having a slot corresponding to the depth of the tile; and   an upper molding to be affixed to the surface of the structure having a groove disposed to receive the upper flange of the upper channel of the framework and a lower molding to be affixed to the surface of the structure having groove disposed to receive the lower flange of the lower channel of the framework.   
     
     
         8 . The modular system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of layers includes a rigid grid creating further rigidity in the growing substrate and further supportive of the growing substrate and plants growing therein. 
     
     
         9 . The modular system of  claim 7 , wherein the upper flange is opposite the slot on the upper channel and the lower flange is opposite the slot on the lower channel. 
     
     
         10 . The modular system of  claim 7 , the plurality of layers of the growing substrate including a protective layer on the top that resists breakdown from ultra-violet (UV) radiation and erosion due to wind and other forces while promoting moisture retention in lower layers and disposed to receive a starter plant and root through an insertion area in the protective layer, a growing media layer below the protective layer wherein the growing media layer is formed with a homogenous mixture of earth materials and plant nutrients distributed through a binding material that cures creating air pockets that receives the root of the starter plant and retains air, moisture and nutrients and a barrier layer below the growing media layer that provides a root barrier to reduce the growth of roots below the barrier layer and acts as a filter for water passing through the growing substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The modular system of  claim 10  wherein the binding material in the growing media layer includes a synthetic foam material that stabilizes the earth materials and plant nutrients while also providing rigidity and overall support to the growing substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The modular system of  claim 7  wherein the upper channel is aligned in parallel to the lower channel separated by a distance corresponding to a width of the tile and disposed to slidably receive the tile along the slot in the upper channel and the slot in the lower channel. 
     
     
         13 . The modular system of  claim 7  wherein a substantial area of the weather protective layer remains uncovered by the framework and available to receive a plurality of the starter vegetation. 
     
     
         14 . A modular growing panel system for attaching vegetation to a surface of a structure, comprising:
 a growing substrate with a plurality of layers formed into a tile that is rigid and self-supportive of vegetation being grown in the growing substrate; and   a binder attaching one or more of the tiles to each other and forming the modular growing panel system.   
     
     
         15 . The modular system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of layers includes a rigid grid creating further rigidity in the growing substrate and further supportive of the growing substrate and plants growing therein. 
     
     
         16 . The modular system of  claim 14 , the plurality of layers of the growing substrate including a protective layer on the top that resists breakdown from ultra-violet (UV) radiation and erosion due to wind and other forces while promoting moisture retention in lower layers and disposed to receive a starter plant and root through an insertion area in the protective layer, a growing media layer below the protective layer wherein the growing media layer is formed with a homogenous mixture of earth materials and plant nutrients distributed through a binding material that cures creating air pockets that receives the root of the starter plant and retains air, moisture and nutrients and a barrier layer below the growing media layer that provides a root barrier to reduce the growth of roots below the barrier layer and acts as a filter for water passing through the growing substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The modular system of  claim 15  wherein the binding material in the growing media layer includes a synthetic foam material that stabilizes the earth materials and plant nutrients while also providing rigidity and overall support to the growing substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The modular system of  claim 14  wherein a substantial area of the weather protective layer remains uncovered and available to receive a plurality of the starter vegetation.