Primo MAXX II Turf Growth Regulator 5L

Primo Maxx® II is a new-generation turf growth regulator formulated with the active ingredient trinexapac-ethyl to improve turf density, uniformity, and overall plant health. By slowing vertical growth and encouraging lateral spread, Primo Maxx® II creates a smoother, tighter turf surface that is better able to withstand stress while enhancing playability on fairways and greens.

Primo Maxx® II is an improved micro-emulsion (ME) formulation developed and tested for Australian conditions by Syngenta. Although it contains a slightly lower active ingredient concentration, it delivers the same proven performance as the original Primo MAXX® at the same field rates. Improved plant uptake efficiency allows Primo Maxx® II to maintain an excellent turf safety profile with a Caution signal heading.

Used across golf courses, sports fields, turf farms, and managed landscapes, Primo Maxx® II is a cornerstone product for growth regulation, surface conditioning, and long-term turf performance.

Key Benefits of Primo MAXX II Turf Growth Regulator

Primo Maxx® II improves overall turf quality and colour, including on fine-cut turf surfaces such as greens. By increasing the availability of non-structural carbohydrates, it enhances turf health, resilience, and recovery from stress.

Regular applications at lower rates produce a denser, more durable surface that tolerates wear and environmental stress more effectively. Primo Maxx® II is a valuable pre-stress conditioning tool for bentgrass greens entering hot summer conditions and can be used early in the season without limiting spring renovation programs.

Primo Maxx® II also delivers significant operational benefits by reducing mowing frequency, clippings, fuel use, and machinery wear. Its MAXX® formulation technology allows excellent tank-mix compatibility with fungicides and foliar fertilisers, often improving performance by reducing active ingredient removal through mowing.

How does Primo MAXX II Turf Growth Regulator work?

Primo Maxx® II works by temporarily inhibiting the production of gibberellic acid within the plant leaf. Gibberellic acid is responsible for cell elongation and vertical growth. By blocking this process, Primo Maxx® II shortens the distance between shoot nodes, resulting in more compact growth.

While vertical growth is slowed, plant energy is redirected into root development and lateral growth. This creates stronger, healthier, and denser turf that plays more consistently and requires up to 35% less mowing. Growth regulation typically begins within approximately one week of the initial application.

Primo Maxx II Turf Growth Regulator for Fairways and Roughs

On fairways and in-play roughs, a full Primo Maxx® II program can reduce mowing frequency by up to 35%. This reduction provides meaningful labour savings, lower fuel costs, and reduced wear on mowing equipment, extending machinery life and lowering maintenance costs.

Additional benefits include greater flexibility in mowing schedules, a cleaner visual finish, fewer clumps in wet conditions, improved striping, and reduced seed head formation. These improvements contribute to more consistent playing surfaces and improved presentation.

Primo Maxx II Turf Growth Regulator for Fine Turf Surfaces

On fine turf surfaces such as greens, Primo Maxx® II improves smoothness, consistency, and trueness. Turf can continue to be mown as normal with fewer clippings, or mowing frequency can be reduced in combination with rolling.

Slower leaf growth allows playing speed and surface quality to remain more consistent throughout the day. In many cases, cutting height can be slightly raised without loss of ball speed, reducing plant stress, lowering disease susceptibility, decreasing scalping risk, and enhancing root mass and surface stability.

Primo Maxx II Turf Growth Regulator Delivers Enhanced Turf Plant Health

Primo Maxx® II promotes healthier turf plants that are better able to resist stress and disease, delivering improved playing conditions throughout the season. Benefits include improved drought resistance, quicker recovery from stress, increased wear tolerance, and overall reduced plant stress.

Pre-stress conditioning with Primo Maxx® II helps turf cope with adverse conditions such as drought, waterlogging, heavy wear, and disease pressure. Treated turf remains visually stronger for longer and recovers more quickly once stress conditions ease.

Primo Maxx II Turf Growth Regulator Delivers Enhanced Shade Tolerance

Shade weakens turf plants and increases susceptibility to stress, wear, and disease. Primo Maxx® II helps turf compensate for up to a 75% reduction in light levels by limiting elongated growth and conserving carbohydrates.

By blocking gibberellic acid production, Primo Maxx® II breaks the cycle of excessive growth and carbohydrate depletion, allowing plants in shaded environments to rebuild strength and improve long-term performance.

Application Timing and Rate Variation for Primo MAXX II Turf Growth Regulator

Primo Maxx® II programs can be started at any stage when turf is actively growing, ideally at the onset of consistent spring growth. This typically occurs when soil temperatures at 5–10 cm depth reach double digits for at least five consecutive days.

Growth monitoring through clipping yield measurement provides a practical guide to program timing and rate adjustment. Where higher rates are intended, the first application should be made at half rate, followed by full-rate applications thereafter.

Application rates should be tailored to turf species and growth intensity:

• Greens: 0.2–0.6 L/ha

• Fairways: 0.4–4.0 L/ha

• Roughs and Semi-roughs: 1–8 L/ha

Lower rates applied more frequently generally provide the most consistent regulation, while higher rates may be more suitable during periods of aggressive growth.

Mixing and Compatibility of Primo MAXX II Turf Growth Regulator

Primo Maxx® II is a micro-emulsion concentrate with minimal odour and excellent solubility. It mixes completely with water and is compatible with many commonly used fungicides and liquid fertilisers.

While physical compatibility is high, turf managers should note that some tank mixes, particularly with certain broadleaf herbicides, may cause transient yellowing. Always follow label directions and consider small-scale testing before broad application.