Kult Plant Growth Regulator

Tips For Use

Restraints:

• Do not apply when daytime temperatures are consistently above 32°C or when grasses are stressed from heat, cold or lack of moisture.
• Do not apply when soils are saturated (waterlogged) as fixing onto the soil will not occur and the product may move away from treated areas especially if heavy rainfall or irrigation follows application.
• Do not apply when turf has been thinned from disease or insect infestation or damaged from aeration or scarifying – wait until recovery has occurred.
• Do not apply to over-seeded areas until after establishment and then only use the lower rates until recovery has occurred.
• Do not scarify and top-dress greens whilst Poa annua is undergoing growth regulation.
• Do not use on trees of low vigour or under stress (see General Instructions).
• Do not use in orchards under-planted with any other crops.
• Do not apply to young trees which have recently been inter-planted in orchards and which are required to make vigorous growth.
• Do not apply to newly planted or recently transplanted hedging species, allow the hedge to establish and consolidate before applying for the first time.
• Do not apply by aircraft.

Re-Entry Period:

• Do not allow re-entry into treated areas until the spray has dried.

General Instructions:

• Surefire Kult Plant Growth Regulator is a systemic growth regulator that reduces internode lengths of new shoots and causes earlier formation of terminal buds.
• Use of Surefire Kult should begin only when plants are nearing their optimum size.

Orchards:

• It is most suited to intensively managed orchards where trees are near to filling their allocated space and growth control is a prime requirement.
• It is not suitable for old or unhealthy trees.

Hedges:

• For hedges, this is once the desired shape (height, width and foliar density) has already been achieved and the hedge requires only maintenance thereafter.
• Responsiveness to this product can vary from site to site.
• It is strongly recommended the lower rate be used when applying for the first time.
• If increased regulation is required then step up to the higher rate in the second year.
• If a plant is under stress Surefire Kult should not be used.

Tree Management:

• Treated trees may produce heavier crops and require a higher level of fertilizer application. 
• Ensure that treated trees are not over-watered or subjected to drought stress.
• In some instances, treated trees may set excess fruit and careful attention should be given to thinning operations.
• When replanting a treated orchard, at least 3 years should elapse since the last application for Surefire Kult In orchards, which have been treated with collar drenches of Surefire Kult fresh soil should be provided to allow tree establishment and growth.
• Remove treated soil.
• An alternative is to avoid original tree holes, and place young trees as far as practicable from the treated soil (minimum 1.5 m).
• Where young trees are required to be planted in an established orchard that has been treated with collar drenches of Surefire Kult remove treated soil and replace it with fresh soil.

Hedge Management:

• Treated hedges should be kept well watered with adequate nutrition.
• Plants should not have nutrition limited due to a lesser growth rate.
• When replanting a hedge at least 2 years should have elapsed since the last application of Surefire Kult.
• Alternatively, if planting into an area that historically has been treated, fresh soil should be provided to allow plant establishment and growth.
• A further alternative is to avoid original planting holes and place young hedging species as far as practicable from the treated soil (minimum 1.5 m).

Turfgrass:

• Surefire Kult is a suspension concentrate formulation for spray application after dilution with water.
• Apply to dry or wet turf and water in immediately with 4-6 mm of sprinkler irrigation.
• The degree of Poa annua control will be influenced by application rate as well as the turf management practices, climate, soil type, grass variety, and Poa annua biotype.
• The growth of Poa annua will be reduced 1-2 weeks after application.
• Higher application rates will cause Poa annua to discolour (yellow to brown) and stop or slow its growth allowing desirable turf species to dominate.
• Application 1-2 weeks prior to Poa annua seed-head emergence will reduce seed-head visibility, but not formation.
• Repeat applications 4-8 weeks apart (depending on the rate) are required where Poa annua content is high (See Critical Comments for Restrictions).
• Use in areas containing greater than 70% Poa annua will result in widespread discolouration of the fairway and green and may not appear acceptable to the user.
• The use of other cultural techniques is encouraged to lower the percentage of Poa annua below the 70% level.
• Over-seeding is recommended to hasten the conversion from Poa annua to more desirable grasses.
• To avoid stunting the growth of desirable seedlings, allow at least 14 days after treatment before overseeding and in newly over-seeded areas.
• Make treatments at least 6 weeks after over-seeding.
• On new grass, plantings delay application until after establishment.
• Delay planting grass seed until after heavy rain or watering and not sooner than 1 month after application.

Mixing:

Foliar Sprays: 

• To a clean bucket of water add the required amount of Surefire Kult and stir to make a smooth mix.
• Add slurry to a half-filled spray tank of clean water.
• Add the required amount of non-ionic wetter (1000 g/L) and agitate during the completion of filling.
• Frequent or constant agitation of the spray mixture is recommended.
• Wash out the spray tank after use.

Collar Drench: 

• Mix the required volume of Surefire Kult with the recommended volume of water.
• Periodic agitation may be necessary to prevent settling.

Application:

Turfgrass:

• Apply Surefire Kult by boom sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzles and calibrated to apply sufficient spray mixture per hectare to cover the foliage well without causing run-off.
• Volumes between 400-800 L/ ha are suitable. Even application is essential.
• Avoid double application at boom edges to maintain uniformity in turfgrass response.
• High pressures are not required and should not be used.
• Avoid drift onto non-target plants such as garden beds, shrubs and trees.
• Spray pressures of 150-200 kPa are sufficient.

Foliar Sprays: 

• Apply in a sufficient volume of water to ensure penetration of the spray and good coverage of target tissue, new green stem tissue in the case of apples.
• Apply in a minimum volume of 1000 L of water per ha. Non-ionic wetter (1000 g/L) at 18 mL/100 L of water must be added to the final spray volume.
• It is not normally necessary to reapply the spray if rain follows soon after application.

Collar Drench: 

• Uptake of Surefire Kult is most efficient when it is applied to soil that receives adequate water and where there is a high density of feeder roots.
• Apply required amount of Surefire Kult in 0.5 to 2 L of water per tree onto the soil/trunk crack line evenly around the base of the trunk.
• Where specific rates per tree are not given, the application rate per tree is determined by dividing the application rate per ha by the number of trees per ha.
• The volume of diluted drench required for even application without runoff will vary with the size of the tree and with soil type and moisture content.
• Use the higher volume on large trees.
• Ensure that trees are adequately irrigated following treatment under dry conditions.
• Individual trees, which are smaller than average should be left untreated or given a proportionally smaller dose of Surefire Kult

Trickle Point:

• Apply in 200-300 mL water per tree beneath each trickle or dripper point or through the trickle irrigation system.
• Follow application with a short period of irrigation.
• Alternatively, the required amount of Surefire Kult can be applied through the trickle irrigation system.
• Equal distribution of water between trees is essential for this method to give a uniform effect.

Retreatment:

In some cases, control of growth may persist for more than one year. Retreat trees when normal growth resumes. Use the interval between the first treatment and the resumption of normal growth as a guide for retreatment in subsequent seasons.

Storage:

• Store in the closed, original container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place.
• Do not store for prolonged periods in direct sunlight.

Safety Directions:

• Avoid contact with the eyes and skin. 
• After use and before eating, drinking or smoking, wash hands, arms and face thoroughly with soap and water.

First Aid:

• If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or Poisons Information Centre. Phone Australia 13 11 26.
• Additional information is listed in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

​This information and product advice is not intended to be advice or recommendations for any specific use or circumstance. You should seek specialist advice before using any product. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Specialist Sales liability is limited.​