Lawn Care tip of the week #2

[LwnmwnMan2]

I'll throw in a couple. I'll start with something that most people will not know.

There are products called PGR's (growth regulators) for grass and bushes.

A couple of common names are either Embark or Primo Maxx. Embark is more cost effective than Primo Maxx, but Primo will have a longer sustaining effect.

What it is, is a chemical that you mix with water, that when you spray it on turf or bushes, the plant material will quit growing. It won't die, it will just stop growing and stay healthy.

Grass will hold it's length for up to 6 weeks. Bushes are a little trickier, but about the same amount of time, if you're someone that's picky about your bushes always looking the same.

PGR's are used mostly along fence lines, instead of products such as round-up, because it doesn't kill the grass, just keeps the grass short, thereby eliminating the need for weed-wacking for 3-4-5-6 weeks at a time.

Also, some people have sprayed an entire yard, especially in the springtime, when it seems like a person has to mow every 4-5 days to keep up with the growth.

You will still have to mow during the spring, but more like every 14 days, allowing more early(ier) season fishing, especially around opener.

I used Primo Maxx last year at the High School for Chisago Lakes, I was able to not trim for up to 8 weeks in some areas, some areas it lasted 4 weeks.

[setterguy]

Awesome tip, I have a 1/2 acre fenced yard and trimming stinks. Where to purchase?

[harvey lee]

So what I am readfing into this is I can spray my whole yard with this chemical and the lawn will stay green and hardly grow to reduce mowing.Can I fertilize in the spring,do my crab grass control and then wait two weeks for the crab grass controller and fert. to work and then spray to reduce growth?If I can do this it would be great.How much does this stuff cost and where do I get it?

[IFallsRon]

How does a growth regulator affect lawns that may be exposed to drought conditions like this year?

[LwnmwnMan2]

"Plant Growth Regulator

Recommendations

To eliminate seedheads and reduce mowing on golf courses, fairways, cemeteries and parks. Trimming applications around headstones, sign posts, fence lines, and trees. Reduce trimming of hedges and ornamental plantings. Suppress fruit production of ornamental olive trees. "

This is from a HSOforum that carries Embark.

What it does is, it keeps the blade of the grass (the part you see) from growing.

It'll actually have an effect of creating a better root structure, since the energy of the plant is not going into just shooting the blade into the air.

Yes, all of your other chemicals will work as scheduled.

I didn't bring up the price earlier for a reason.

The only one that I've tried, is the Primo Maxx. You can buy it online or at a Lesco store, which I've mentioned before.

Google it, and it may come up other places as well.

I paid $500 for a gallon. Yes, I said $500 for a gallon.

This is the high end stuff. The Embark, I googled that, and got a HSOforum, PBIGordon, which is the company that markets this product.

I tried calling, there's a distributor in Blaine, but no one answered. I know this stuff is quite a bit cheaper.

The Embark is recommended at a rate of 24-32 oz / acre, so basically a pint per acre.

Now, if you're using it for trimming purposes, even if you spray 1' wide around everything, that would mean that you could spray for approximately 4 - 5 miles 1' wide (40k-ish) sq ft.

I realize that there is a LARGE sticker shock, but like I tell my buddies, get 2-3-4 people to go in on it. If you all paid $100 to get a pint or so of the chemical, then that would be enough to basically not trim for 2-3 years most likely.

As for keeping your whole yard down, there's not ALOT of guys that do that commercially, but it is done here and there, especially when you have a very steep hill, or other areas that are nearly impossible to mow.

As far as how it would help in drought conditions, nothing's going to really help there as much as water, water and more water.

I've got some properties that were irrigated, and they still burned up beyond the point of return in some areas.