Plant root management and protection

1 . A plant root management and protection system configured for embedding within a dug pit, the system comprising:

a sidewall peripherally defining a receiving internal cavity and having (i) a top opening dimensioned to receive a root ball of a plant therethrough, and (ii) a bottom opening defined by a peripheral edge of said sidewall, wherein the sidewall extends vertically from the bottom opening to the top opening; and

at least one root-guiding extension extending outwardly from said sidewall and perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of said sidewall, wherein each of said at least one root-guiding extensions defines an open-ended hollow passageway in communication with said cavity;

wherein, when embedded a dug pit, said longitudinal axis of said sidewall is upright and said top opening does not extend above surface level, and

wherein at least a vertical portion of said sidewall comprises a vertical anchoring portion extending below a bottom-most part of said root-guiding extensions into a ground below, said anchoring portion ends in said peripheral edge,

wherein said anchoring portion is configured to be anchored within a bottom surface of said dug pit, and wherein said system is structurally configured to resist at least rotational displacement of said system.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein, when embedded within said dug pit, said vertical anchoring portion is configured to inhibit collapsing of a plant in the system.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said sidewall is configured to resist lateral loads from one or more paving systems adjoining said dug pit.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said sidewall is configured to resist penetration by roots of said root ball.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said peripheral edge has a profile selected from the group consisting of: a saw-tooth profile, a scalloped profile, and a zigzag profile.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said sidewall has a length of between 60-200 cm, and wherein said vertical portion of said peripheral edge has a length of between 10-30% of said length of said sidewall.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall has a cross-sectional profile selected from the group consisting of: a circle, an oval, an octagon, and a rectangle.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said system is made of at least one of: a rigid material, a semi-rigid material, and a flexible material.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said system is made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: a polymer, a polyolefin, cast iron, black iron, steel, clay, clay compounds, and concrete.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said system is made of one or more materials which are substantially impervious to water and nutrients intended for root growth.

11 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a duct configured to provide air exchange between one or more locations within said internal cavity and the ambient atmosphere.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said duct is located within side sidewall.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said duct is further configured to provide air exchange between one or more locations within said at least one root-guiding extension and the ambient atmosphere.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said duct comprises a plurality of perforations along its length.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said duct comprises an irrigation element.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein said irrigation element is a drip irrigation element.

17 . The plant root management and protection system of claim 1 ,

wherein said anchoring portion extends between 7-25 cm distally below the bottom-most part of said root-guiding extensions.

18 . A method for plant root management and protection within a dug pit, the method comprising:

providing a system comprising:

a sidewall peripherally defining a receiving internal cavity and having (i) a top opening dimensioned to receive a root ball of a plant therethrough, and (ii) a bottom opening defined by a peripheral edge of said sidewall, wherein the sidewall extends vertically from the bottom opening to the top opening; and

at least one root-guiding extension extending outwardly from said sidewall and perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of said sidewall, wherein each of said at least one root-guiding extensions defines an open-ended hollow passageway in communication with said cavity,

wherein, when embedded a dug pit, said longitudinal axis of said sidewall is upright and said top opening does not extend above surface level, and

wherein at least a vertical portion of said sidewall comprises an anchoring portion extending below a bottom-most part of said root-guiding extensions into a ground below, said anchoring portion ends in said peripheral edge;

embedding said system within said dug pit such that said longitudinal axis of said sidewall is upright and said top opening does not extend above said hardscape;

entrenching said vertical portion in said bottom surface;

at least partially filling said system with a rooting medium; and

planting a tree through said top opening.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein, when embedded within said dug pit, each of said at least one root-guiding extensions is configured for sitting on top of said bottom surface.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said sidewall is configured to resist lateral loads from one or more paving systems adjoining said dug pit.