JustinG????

[LwnmwnMan2]

Got a question for you....

Have you had much experience with growth regulators for grass??

A couple of years ago I ran Primo Maxx but don't know if I got the results that I was really looking for.

Just wondering in your runs with the golf courses if you guys have tried any of the options out there????

Thanks,

Jeremy

[JustinG]

Jeremy,

Yes. I use Primo on my greens. I have been using different regulators for years, but Primo has been my mainstay.

There is ALOT to them and they are their own animal.

A couple of things about Primo-this is just a few:

1. Primo along with most other growth regulators work best under optimum growing conditions (70-90 degrees). When it is cold, they are not taken up well. You can also yellow turf if you are suppressed and get a heavy frost. I always discontinue use when I anticipate frost in the fall.

2. For best results using TGR's especially Primo, YOU MUST STAY ON A 10-14 DAY PROGRAM! And furthermore, once you start using in the spring, you do not want to stop until fall. What will happen is your turf will flush out after 15-21 days weather depending, of course. When this happens, you will have a nightmare on your hands-especially when it happens on putting greens.

3. In my case, I use Primo on my greens to suppress growth. This is so my greens stay nice and fast from early morning until evening. It also works extremely well for managing low mowing heights under extreme stress times. During the summer I maintain my greens at 0.120 (under 1/8 of an inch)-I wouldn't hesitate to go lower if needed.

4. Primo does not work well on turf mowed above 1/2". This may have been the problem you were having.

If you wish to use regulators on say a Kentucky Bluegrass lawn mowed at say 1 1/2-2", I would recommend a different regulator such as Proxy or Embark. Do NOT apply these to Poa Annua unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing! Read the labels and do some research first for the best results. Whatever you do, do not exceed application rates-make sure your sprayer is properly calibrated!

Well, it would take me a week to post everything I know about regulators, but this might be a good start. Best advice I can give you is do alot of research on what you are trying to accomplish-there are regulators for each situation. They are also uniquely different!

Hope this helps,

Justin

[LwnmwnMan2]

We maintain the Chisago Lakes school district. I used it on the fence lines / trimming areas to keep the trimming to a minimum.

Basically the senior high takes about 8 man hours, so I'm was trying to minimize that aspect.

The school will let me use roundup / generic, but that's just going to open the ground up to weeds, which just means there's more trimming, since the weeds will grow faster than the turf around it, I'm not concerned about yellowing of the grass.

There's a couple other brands the guys at Lesco were talking about, just wanted to get your opinions, figured you used them......

[LwnmwnMan2]

For others "eavesdropping" on this conversation, growth regulators are put on turf areas, or other ornamentals (trees, bushes, etc.) and slow the growth of these.

You can apply it to grass, and depending on the circumstance, hold the length (approx.) from 10 days to 6 weeks, weather dependant.

Also, it helps with root structure / growth since more of the plants energy is directed towards the roots, rather than top growth.