All of the turf treatments can reduce mowing and mowing costs; however, the Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Program reduces one to two mowing cycles per year. The growth regulator program may be utilized to control the growth of cool season grasses such as fescue. A growth retardant typically interferes with cell division and thus prevents seedhead development. A plant growth regulator program can be an alternative to mechanical mowing, especially to reduce early season mowing cycles. Proper seasonal timing of this application is critical for success.

Warm Season Release

The Warm Season Release (WSR) Program controls undesirable grass and weed species while releasing or maintaining warm season turfgrasses such as bahiagrass, bermudagrass and centipedegrass. Pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicide treatments may be utilized in late winter or early spring to prevent growth of weeds and reduce early season sight distance problems and mowing cycles.

Seedhead Control

A Seedhead Control Program for warm season turfgrasses may also be utilized. Like the PGR program, this seedhead control program may reduce one to two mowing cycles per year in turfgrass areas that are being managed as warm season species, especially for Pensacola Bahiagrass. Such a control program has been shown to be an acceptable alternative to mechanical mowing, especially to reduce mowing cycles during the early "green-up" stage of the warm season turfgrass-growing season. Proper seasonal timing of this application is critical for success, however this type of seedhead control may be applied at various warm season turfgrass developmental stages.

Broadleaf Weed Control

The Broadleaf Weed Control Program consists of controlling weed species along the roadsides while they are small and actively growing. Broadleaf weeds can present a major sight distance problem if not addressed properly. The presence of broadleaf weeds in roadside turfgrass can also be aesthetically undesirable, and may also prevent the desired turfgrass from becoming readily established. The Department may utilize pre-emergence or post-emergence herbicides which effectively control broadleaf weeds.

Annual Grass Control

The Annual Grass Control Program may utilize herbicide treatments during the summer to control annual and perennial grasses such as crabgrass, dallisgrass, broomsedge, goosegrass, and others. Annual grass control is crucial in any vegetation management program because undesirable annual and perennial grasses compete for plant nutrients during the summer months, thinning stands of desirable turf. In many cases, especially in warm season grass areas, control of undesirable annual grasses may negate or delay the need for mechanical mowing because the desirable turfgrass may not be of sufficient height to warrant the cost of a mowing cycle.

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