A prevegetated blanket is formed, grown, and transported to an installation site in a tray specifically suited for this purpose. Growth in a tray system offers an improved and protected root system and provides for ease of transport and installation. The tray has side walls and a t-grid floor to permit growth of the blanket. The tray also has interlocking capabilities for nestable or non-nestable stacking. After growth in a controlled environment, the prevegetated blanket with the tray is transferred to a specific site and installed immediately after soil is prepared. Due to the tray design, the product is light weight and facilitates ease of handling with minimal disturbance of the root structure.
