Systemic Growth Regulator

Systemic Growth Regulator: for healthier, stronger, and controlled trees

Gruett Tree Company is proud to announce Systemic Growth Regulator (SGR), or as we like to call it, the oatmeal for trees!

SGR is an advancement in tree control in the urban environment. Trees are naturally large and grand, growing wildly, lush and green. However, in the urban environment there is a need to control trees so they do not pose danger to our children, homes and property. SGR makes it easy to control the growth of your trees, whilst making them greener, stronger, more drought resistant, and will save you money on trimming!

Why reduce branch growth?

A reduction in vegetative growth is advantageous for trees in many situations. Most directly, this technology delays trees from growing into obstructions such as powerlines. Additionally, reducing shoot growth extends longevity for trees on sites with limited resources. The chart below relates tree growth rate to various stress tolerance characteristics. In each case a tree with a slower rate of growth has a better stress tolerance rating.

Slowing growth for a healthier tree

Large trees add beauty, character, and value to the landscape, and they are highly desired by many homeowners. While it is appealing to think most trees in the landscape will eventually grow large and provide these benefits, this may not always be in the best interest of your tree and property.

There are two main reasons why:

1. The size of a mature tree is often underestimated, and many trees are planted too close to houses, garages, power lines, and other structures. This type of interference may cause damage to the property and require additional maintenance to correct.
2. Large trees require more water, minerals, and soil volume for roots than smaller trees, and these resources may not be available in sufficient quantity in smaller urban sites. If these resources are limited, tree health will eventually suffer.

What does SGR do?

SGR is a tree growth regulator that reduces canopy growth by 40 to 70% over a three year period. Reducing the amount of tree growth can help you;

• Safely maintain the visual appeal of the landscape.
• Reduce the amount of live wood pruning required.
• Prevent premature overcrowding of competing trees.
• Maintain a smaller, more appropriate tree size when there is a restricted root zone.
• Maintain vista views with less frequent pruning.
• Extend the time in between pruning events, up to 3 years.
• Minimize intrusion by power companies.

Additional benefits

As a result of growth reduction, some favorable changes occur that enhance the durability of your tree to the stresses associated with living in an urban yard. These include:

• Stimulate fine root production.
• Improve drought and heat resistance.
• Higher tolerance to certain diseases.

Slower Growing Trees

A common myth about trees is that a faster growing tree is healthier than a slower growing tree. The truth is that slower growing trees will outlive trees that grow faster, especially in situations such as yards, where space and resources are limited. The chart below shows some important differences between a tree growing relatively faster or slower.