AW-DISK® (Anti Weed Disk). AW-DISK® The AW-DISK® (Anti-Weed-Disk) is a pot-top against weedgrowth (weed, moss and liverworth), produced from a mixture.

AW-DISK® (Anti Weed Disk)

AW-DISK®

The AW-DISK® (Anti-Weed-Disk) is a pot-top against weedgrowth (weed, mossand liverworth), produced from a mixtureof natural fibres (kokos, sisal and jute) andnatural latex.

The AW-DISK® is produced in the Netherlands under highly controlled circumstances:

• Homogeneous quality => all disks are equal in quality.• Good Hygiene => all raw materials are desinfected and sterilised.• Fast and flexibel in delivery.

Quality Issues of the AW-DISK®High Density Quality (HD): Low Density Quality (LD): 1. Produced in the Netherlands 1.  Produced in the Netherlands2. Is produced out of a mix of natural fibres (coir, sisal and jute). 2.  Is produced out of a mix of natural fibres (coir, sisal and jute).3.  All ingredients are 100% desinfected and sterilised. 3.  All ingredients are 100% desinfected and sterilised.4.  Our premium, most thickest Quality. 4.  Our standard, thin Quality.5.  Works very good against all kinds of weedgrowth (97%)5. Works very good against moss and liverworth (97%)6.  Works for 2 years. 6.  Works reasonable against weedgrowth (81%)7.  Is re-usable after 1 year. 7.  Works for 1 year.8. Delivery Time 1-2 weeks. 8. Delivery Time 1-2 weeks.

Asian Coco Fibre Quality (CF): 1.  Produced in the Asia.2.  Is produced only out of cocofibres.3.  The quality can be a little bit heterogeneous (varieing from thin to thick).4.  A little bit stiffer than the quality from Holland. Less easy to put on the pots.5.  No guarantee concerning the hygiene (salt content and residues of chemicals).6.  Works for 1 - 2 years.7. Delivery Time 6-8 weeks.

How to use the AW-DISK®

Take the AW-DISK® in Open the AW-DISK® and Press the AW-DISK® In case the plant is notboth hands. Keep the put it around the trunks carefully onto the earth growing in the middle of therugged side up. of the plant. IN the flowerpot. the pot, you can put the AW-

DISK® around the trunks of the plant from the seam.

Why working with the AW-DISK®

1. The AW-DISK® prevents weedgrowth.

2. The AW-DISK® protects the potsoil against changing conditions (water and temperature).

3. With the AW-DISK® you have better quality plants.

4. The AW-DISK® is 100% natural, 100% biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.

5. With the AW-DISK® you can differentiate yourself in the market to your clients.

1. The AW-DISK® prevents weedgrowth.

1. The AW-DISK® prevents weedgrowth.

a. Saving labour costs for not needing to weed or spray your plants.

b. Better quality of your plants => no damage to the plants because of weed or manual weeding or spraying your plants.

c. Quick despatch in spring, much quicker preparing of the orders. No weeding of plants or topdressing with soil again. Hughe saving on labour costs and no stress.

d. You and your employees can focus on more important issues on the nursery which improves your profit directly:

You can focus on sales in stead of organising your people on the nursery for weeding.

Your people can focus on important crop handlings to improve the quality of your plants (pruning, etcetera).

1. The AW-DISK® prevents weedgrowth.

2. The AW-DISK® protects the potsoil against changing conditions (water and temperature).

Less evaporation

Less dehydration

Better quality andLess need for water(35% - 45%)!

2. The AW-DISK® protects the potsoil against changing conditions (water and temperature).

a. Less evaporation out of the potsoil.

b. Protection against dehydration of your plants in the summer.

c. 35% - 45% less need for water during cultivation.

d. More stable water- and temperaturebalance in the potsoil.

e. More even release of fertilizers and more contstant rooting conditions.

f. Better quality plants.

2. The AW-DISK® protects the potsoil against changing conditions (water and temperature).

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AW disk No mulched test

Source: Fondazione Minoprio Italy 2007

Measured is the average weight loss (g) by pots during a plenty sunny day (water loss due to evapo-transpiration).

Cultivars tested are:• Thuja Plicata (42% less)• Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’(46% less)• Prunus Laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’(32% less)

Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’

2. The AW-DISK® protects the potsoil against changing conditions (water and temperature).Source: PPO Boskoop Research Institute 2005

% Verdamping van AW-DISK-HD tov Controle op pot zonder planten

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3. With the AW-DISK® you have better quality plants.

a. No weeds in your plants and also no seeds of rootstocks of weeds. 100% clean plants guaranteed!

b. No damage of weed or weeding or spraying.

c. Better rooting of your plants, better growth.

d. No dehydration of your plants, better growth. Also no dehydration during transport.

e. No use of chemicals on your nursery, but a 100% natural and environmental friendly solution.

3. With the AW-DISK® you have better quality plants.

A picture from Denmark with better rooting of plants with an AW-DISK® compared to plants without an AW-DISK®.

4. The AW-DISK® is 100% natural, 100% biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.

• No use of Herbicides!

• Less need for water during cultivation!

• No waste => AW-DISK® is a 100% natural and bio-degradable product!

4. The AW-DISK® is 100% natural, 100% biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.

5. With the AW-DISK® you can differentiate yourself in the market to your clients.

If you decide to deliver all your shrubs and trees to the Garden Center with an AW-DISK®:

• You deliver 100% clean plants to your clients. No weed and also no roots or seeds of weed. 100% clean!!

• Your plants are protected by the AW-DISK® in the Garden Center and do not need so much water and do not dry out so quickly. They have a longer shelf-life.

• You have chosen for the environment, you use no herbicides which is proven by the AW-DISK® on your delivered plants.

• When covering the plants with the AW-DISK® the potsoil stays in the pot and the Garden Center (and also the cars of their customers) stay clean. This improves the hygiene on the Garden Center or Retail Outlet.

With the AW-DISK® a clean nursery and gardencenter!

Because of the AW-DISK® the soil will not fall out of the pot.

Your nursery and also the Garden Center remains clean, which will also improve the hygiene.

AW-DISK®

You will benefit

because of working with the AW-DISK®!

AW-DISK® - A few Questions:

1. What are the labour costs in Greece?

2. How many plants can you weed in 1 hour?

3. How often do you weed in the growing season?

4. How many plants can you clean in 1 hour in despatch?

Calculation AW-DISK®Costs:

Example for 3 liter pot 18cm

* Standard price AW-DISK® including transport € 0,18 for 2 year quality => when re-use € 0,09 per plant€ 0,14 for 1 year quality

* Putting AW-DISK® on the machine: 700 pcs per hour with 3 branches (difficult)1.300 pcs per hour with 1 stem (easy)

Averige 1.000 pcs per hour x € 17 / hour = € 0,017 per plant

* Total costs € 0,20 High Density Quality (2 year)€ 0,16 Low Density Quality (1 year)

Calculation AW-DISK®Total costs € 0,20 High Density Quality (2 year) => € 0,10 / year

€ 0,16 Low Density Quality (1 year)

Savings:

* Weeding in the season:

500 plants weeding manually per hour x € 17/ hour = € 0,034 per plantNo pause, no smoking, no talking, netto working hours!!4-6 times per season => calculating with 4 times 4 x € 0,034 = € 0,14 / plantWhen quicker weeding => more times per year.Wenn less times per year weeding => longer weeding.

* Despatch cleaning and topdressing with new soil, 100 plants per hour x € 17 / hour € 0,17 / plant

* Total savings: € 0,31 / plant

Already in Despatch you earn back the AW-DISK® !

Calculation AW-DISK®

Conclusion:

Investment in the AW-DISK® € 0,16 - € 0,20Cost Savings by less weeding € 0,31

Excluding other advantages:

• Better Quality Plants, no damage of weed or damage by weeding or spraying.• More stable rooting conditions and stable growth by covering the potsoil.• Less need for water (35%-45%) and less risks for dehydration in dry times.• No stress on the nursery (during despatch).• You and your people can focus on more important work (sales and making good quality plants).• You deliver guaranteed clean plants to your clients and not plants which are weeded (after 2 weeks again weed).• Your nursery looks clean when clients are visiting you.• Possibilities for differentiating you as E-plant to your clients (Concept, Clean Plants, No herbicides, Longer Shelflife).

AW-DISK® compared to other ways of covering a pot:1. Other disks:

If cheaper, ask yourself why?

• Ingredients? Country of Origin? Etc.

• Do they work?

• How long do they work?

Are there side effects?

• Effects on the growth of the plant.

• Can water and fertilizer pas through the disc.

• How stabile is the disc against wind and other weather influences.

• Waste problem?

AW-DISK® compared to other ways of covering a pot:2. Loose Materials (Biotop, Bark, Other loose materials):

Very difficult to put an even layer of 1cm. There will be spots where weed can grow.

Works only for a few months (march-august), then start degrating and weed start to grow.

Loose materials bind nitrogen and other fertilizers very strongly. Have an impact on the growth of plants.

Loose material, falls from the pot. At your nursery, during transport and at the garden center (your client).

* problems on your nursery with your drainage system and the wheels of your danish trolleys.

* not hygienic (phytopthera). Plants can conteminate eachother.

* protection against weedgrowth is gone.

* problems in the garden center at the cashiere and the garden centers get messy.

Garden Centers afraid of nut-allergies (UK Garden Centers).