LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT
Using Plant Growth Regulators to Manage Facility Landscapes
By Rebecca Knapp , CSFM
Managing a sports field complex goes far beyond maintaining pristine turfgrass . Plant growth regulators ( PGRs ) are often an unfamiliar concept outside of turf management , but these products can be highly effective tools for managing landscape plants and trees around sports complexes .
Why would sports field managers want to slow down plant growth ? Surprisingly , using PGRs can lead to significant labor savings , reduced maintenance costs , and healthier plants — all while keeping sports facilities looking their best .
Surrounding landscapes ( including trees , shrubs , and ornamental plants ) play a critical role in creating an inviting and professional atmosphere for athletes , spectators and staff . However , balancing the demands of busy sports schedules , limited staff and shrinking maintenance budgets can be challenging . This is where PGRs come into play — not just for turfgrass but also for managing trees and landscape plants .
HOW DO PGRS WORK ? PGRs are chemical compounds that influence plant growth by modifying hormone activity ; and have long been used in turfgrass management to reduce mowing frequency . Early PGR formulations were similar to herbicides , limiting growth by blocking cell division . Although this helped to reduce plant height , it often caused side effects such as leaf yellowing , distortion and , in extreme cases , defoliation .
Modern PGR formulations are much more refined . They work by inhibiting the gibberellin
This is a great example of successful hedge management — even , dense growth with no bare spots or gaps . All photos courtesy of Arborjet | Ecologel
hormone , responsible for cell elongation . This means plants still produce the same number of cells , leaves , buds and shoots — but with 30 to 70 percent less growth . This reduction can extend pruning intervals for landscape plants around sports fields , where frequent trimming can be time consuming and costly .
OPTIMIZING SPORTS FIELD LANDSCAPES WITH PGRS Sports field managers face unique challenges . Consider a multi-sport complex with frequent events from youth soccer tournaments to high school football games ; maintaining these highly visible , multi-use facilities
36 SportsField Management | March 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com