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In today’s world, efficiency counts. It counts when it comes to streamlining operations and, ultimately, boosting the bottom line. The use of plant growth regulators for lawn care hasn’t grabbed the focus of many manufacturers, but those who are making products say when it comes to PGRs, landscapers are getting creative with mixes and cutting down on time spent in the field. Lawn & Landscape asked PGR manufacturers what’s new and what’s expected in the future.
What is new in the plant growth regulator segment for lawn care operators?
S. Gary Custis, manager of field research and technical services, PBI/Gordon Corp.: There are no new actives that have come on the market. What we see is companies taking existing actives and blending them either as a premix, or end users are making tank mixes to combine the actives. Trinexapac-ethyl can now be purchased as a generic product.
Roger Storey, vice president of turf and ornamental, SePRO Corp.: The use of plant growth regulators by lawn care operators today is relatively low. There are existing plant growth regulators that could help reduce the costs associated with trimming of shrubs and hedges and mowing turf grass. SePRO’s focus in the lawn care and landscape maintenance market has been on the landscape plants, specifically with (flurprimido as a granular) PGR, for use on established shrubs and hedges to reduce the cost of pruning and trimming.
There are many large landscape maintenance companies that are using PGRs in a program approach on landscape plants, and realizing significant economic benefits as well as sustainable benefits such as improved plant health and reductions in irrigation, fuel, emissions and plant material sent to landfills.
From a development standpoint, SePRO is working on a PGR ... for edging/banding applications to turf which will reduce the frequency of string trimming along fences sidewalks and structures.
What are you hearing from customers?
Custis: Lawn care companies are re-looking at existing products and finding new ways to use them.
Storey: Customers who have initiated PGR programs have communicated great success improving their profitability, but it does require the landscape company to more intensively manage their crew’s time spent on each property.
The reduction in time to trim a property due to the PGR can be very apparent and significant, but the biggest opportunity is then reallocating that labor to a different property and not wasting that labor savings. Reallocating the labor can help the landscape maintenance company expand their customer base.
What new technologies or application methods exist?
Custis: The latest application method for a PGR is the use of (dikegulac-sodium) for fruit suppression on ornamentals. Applicators can either bark band or use the material as a drench at the root flare and prevent nascent fruit on trees such as olives and sweet gums. By using this method versus spraying the canopy of the trees, applications can be made without the major inconvenience of having cars moved, shutting down streets or working at night.
Storey: Prior to (flurprimido as a granular), the only PGR option for established landscape plants were products applied as a foliar spray. The product is applied as a granule application ... to the drip line area of landscape plants. A granular PGR product provides the end user an application technique that is familiar, doesn’t require mixing and is easy to apply.
Where do you see this segment five years from now?
Custis: I think one of the major drivers will be the price of gas and labor. When the gas price went up in 2008-2009, many companies relooked at the use of PGRs. Many states are looking at noise restrictions, which may limit the amount of mowing or trimming that can occur. By the use of PGRs, these operations can be cut in half.
Storey: I believe that in five years we will see more companies that have adopted PGRs as viable tools that allow them to better schedule and manage the maintenance of both landscape and turf grass. ... When used correctly, PGRs can be a great labor savings tool that can positively impact a company’s revenue and bottom line.
The author is associate editor of Lawn & Landscape. Send her an e-mail at clawell@gie.net.
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