Tree or plant protector collar

Claim 1

FOR USE IN PROMOTING THE GROWTH OF A TREE OR A PLANT, A PAD-LIKE GUARD COMPRISING A COLLAR PROVIDED AT ITS CENTER WITH AN OPENING OF A PREDETERMINED SIZE AND SHAPE AND DESIGNED AND ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE THE TREE''S TRUNK WITH ITS MARGINAL EDGE SPACED RADIALLY FROM THE ENCOMPASSED SURFACES OF SAID TRUNK, SAID COLLAR BEING OF A SIZE IN PLAN THAT A SIGNIFICANT AREA OF THE EARTH SURROUNDING THE TRUNK CAN BE COVERED IN A MANNER TO SMOTHER AND PREVENT THE GROWTH OF VEGETATION, SUCH AS WEEDS OR GRASS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE SURFACE COVERED, SAID COLLAR HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED RADIAL SLIT OPENING AT ITS INNER END THE OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE AND OPENING AT ITS INNER END THROUGH THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID CENTERED OPENING, THE UNDERNEATH SIDE OF SAID COLLAR BEING MADE OF COMPRESSIBLY RESILIENT POROUS MATERIAL PERMITTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER CAPABLE OF KEEPING THE COVERED SURFACE MOIST, THE OVERALL TOP SIDE OF SAID COLLAR BEING COATED WITH A THIN PLASTIC FILM OF A PREDETERMINED COLOR, SAID FILM BEING IMPERVIOUS TO THE PASSAGE OF MOISTURE, AND, IN ADDITION, BEING POSSESSED OF MINIMAL LIGHT REFLECTING PROPERTIES CAPABLE OF MINIMIZING GLARE FROM SUNLIGHT AND NATURAL LIGHT PARTICULARLY ON HOT SUNNY DAYS, THE ENTIRE TOP SIDE OF SAID COLLAR BEING DISHED INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY AND ACCORDINGLY BEING CONCAVE WHEREBY TO TRAP AND POOL WATER WHICH CAN THEN BE FED TO SAID TRUNK BY WAY OF SAID CENTERED OPENING.