Want the most up to date technology in lawn and landscape care? Now, we aren’t talking about the newest battery operated lawn mower, or a mower that bounces around your yard like an automatic vacuum. We are talking about the technology that few know about and even fewer (including the professionals) utilize.
Growth regulators are one of the best ways to help manage the labor intensive maintenance that goes hand in hand with beautiful looking landscape. It is also a fantastic way to improve the health of landscape plants, trees, and turf.
Let’s dig in!!
Let’s look at landscape plant material first. Most of the plants in landscaping are not native. Exotic plants are always the hype, for multiple reasons. Most of the non-native plants give our landscaping appeal that native plants just can’t do. Being exotic, the growing environment often differs from what these plants grow in naturally. We can amend the soil, fertilize, and water to make up for many of the differences. Another option to improve plant health, appearance, and lower maintenance is using growth regulators. There are a few different types that effect the plants in different ways, but for the most part all have a similar results. Slowing outward growth while not impeding root growth is the main effect, resulting in health benefits. Additionally, most plants grow more compact, require less shaping, and greatly reduces cleanup as the amount and frequency of pruning is drastically reduced. Landscape plants look far better and look neater as they grow more compact. The best part (in addition to looking better) is the reduced labor and maintenance; whether you do the work yourself, hire someone to do so, or if you are a commercial landscaper all can benefit.
Trees also benefit from growth regulators. Arborists at The Green Advantage often recommend growth regulators as a health benefit. Trees grown in an urban (including suburban) have different obstacles than trees in their natural environment. Soil is disturbed, removed, and replaced during construction. The ground is far more compacted and water is not available the same as in a natural environment. Trees grown for the purpose of landscape are grown differently than they would naturally and there are a multitude of problems that can occur due to transplanting. Many of the problems with trees are the result of root issues. Root binding and compaction are two very common problems. Root binding occurs when roots are entangled with each other or the trunk of a tree. As the roots grow in diameter they “choke” other roots or the trunk of the tree. Compaction from vehicles, people, and other sources, impedes the ability of the fibrous roots to function properly. Aeration or mechanical amendment to soil are often prescribed for compacted conditions if available. There are times when these methods cannot be performed, like when a tree is located near pavement. Growth regulators can dramatically help trees in these conditions as they allow time and energy for root growth, and reduce demand on the root system by slowing the upward and outward spread of the tree canopy. This also benefits in water uptake and nutrient availability, as there is a reduced demand. Trees treated with growth regulators generally look better as their health improves, and they grow more compact.
Turf benefits in many of the same ways. Turf treated with growth regulators grows far thicker than untreated turf. It also has reduced water needs and healthier root systems which aid in drought tolerance. If the health benefits alone are not enough to convince you, the reduced maintenance surely will. Less grass clippings and reduced frequency of mowing is a fantastic result!!
Many professionals have taken advantage of growth regulators in the past and we want to make the benefits available to everyone. The reason these products are not used more frequently, is the complexity of application. It is difficult to apply properly without the correct equipment, knowledge of the equipment, and experience in applying properly. That’s where we come in!! Feel free to contact us for more information!
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