Two weeks ago, I wrote about the use of growth regulators in the landscape. As usual there were a few real life examples that I wanted to include; however, the article was beginning to get a little long.
The sod webworm began his Thanksgiving chow down on our lawns, so I had to save our fungus-riddled lawns from this evil insect in last week’s column. This week I will share with you some real life examples and recommendations for the use of growth regulators in the landscape. These growth regulators can save time, wear and tear on equipment, and money.
All names and locations will be kept confidential to protect the innocent and because I did not get permission to use their names!
A homeowner with a St. Augustine lawn wants to retreat from the summer heat in Charleston and spend the month of July in upstate New York. Who is going to mow the grass? Many lawn care companies would love the job or even a neighbor’s kid; however, this homeowner decides to have the lawn sprayed with a growth regulator and the lawn does not need mowing for a month.
By using a growth regulator on St. Augustine controlling gray leaf spot just got easier. Older leaves with thicker cell walls are less susceptible to attack by the fungus. By keeping the grass mowed lower and not having it grow taller, the grass should dry out quicker making the conditions less favorable for the disease. Systemic fungicides will stay in the plant longer without growing out of the plant (same with fertilizer and systemic insecticides). Studies have shown less water is needed on grass that has been treated with growth regulators.
A 10-acre site I work with mows the bermuda grass three times a week in the summer (twelve times a month). It takes an experienced operator two and a half hours to mow this turf with a seventy-two inch mower (a rookie takes three to three and a half hours).
The chemical to spray this turf would cost about $240. A certified applicator would have to use a tractor type sprayer to go over an area this size (has at least a 12 foot boom so the time to spray and the time to clean the sprayer should take less than two and a half hours).
The growth regulator could easily reduce the mowing from twelve to four. Assuming the experienced operator after taxes being matched and benefits makes twelve dollars per hour (very conservative), the cost of the chemical equals the cost of the labor to mow.
What is the advantage of growth regulators then? The mower did not have to bounce over 80 acres! No fuel needed for 20 hours of operation, no blade sharpening or replacement, no greasing the mower, no air filter maintenance, no tire wear and tear, no oil changes, no washing the mower and no other maintenance associated having a mower bounce over 80 acres. If it rains and you cannot mow for a day or two, the area does not become a hay field that has to be triple cut to disperse the clippings.
The maintenance of Ligustrum, Eleagnus, and other buffer hedges can be greatly reduced by the use of growth regulators. No clippings then no trips to the landfill. Less trimming, less cut off fingers! Growth regulators can make a leggy shrub fuller.   
Always read, understand, and follow product label.

Bill Lamson-Scribner can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply, 481 Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant (971-9601), 3325 Business Circle in North Charleston (760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd, in Charleston (766-1511).  Fax your questions to 406-2700 or e-mail them to your newspaper’s editors. You can also call in your questions to “ The Garden Clinic”, Saturdays from noon to 1:00, on 1250 WTMA  (The Big Talker).