How to Use Surfactants for Pest Control

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Shop for Martin's Eraser here!
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Shop for Alligare 90 Wetting Agent here!
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Introduction: 0:00
What is a surfactant?: 0:38
How do surfactants work?: 1:35
How to use surfactants: 2:46
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When treating plants with pesticides to prevent pest infestations, stop diseases, or kill weeds, surfactants can serve to not only improve our treatments, but also make our products more economical in the long run.
A surfactant, also known as a wetting agent or spreader sticker, is a chemical that breaks up the surface tension of a liquid. The term ‘surfactant’ comes from the larger phrase “surface active agent,” a compound that is soluble in chemical solutions or water and allows mixtures to blend, adhere, and work better. Non-ionic surfactants lack electrical charges and are mixed to improve pesticides because they don’t bubble or foam like ionic surfactants. So where pest control is concerned, look for a non-ionic surfactant to improve the coverage and effectiveness of your pesticide product.
One way a surfactant can be used is with the treatment of problematic weeds. For example, a glyphosate product like Eraser has to come in contact with a plant’s leaves and stick long enough to be absorbed into the tissue. With a surfactant, you enhance a pesticide application by breaking down the waxy cuticle and the liquid’s surface tension. This will cause the product to spread evenly over leaf surfaces without forming beads or rolling off. When applying glyphosate, the product will stick to the leaf surface, ensuring it gets absorbed into the plant.
Different pesticides and surfactants will have different instructions and mix rates, so be sure to read the product labels to get exact directions and values. For turf applications, Alligare 90 is labeled to use at most 4 pints in 100 gallons of spray dilution. This translates to .64 fluid ounces per 1 gallon of water for smaller applications. Some products may have specific directions for mixing with surfactants. Be sure to read your product’s entire label for proper mixing procedures.
Click the link to learn more about surfactants and shop the professional-grade products featured in bit.ly/how-to-use-surfactants
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[@herbicidesurfactant]

I think this is a very professional and visual presentation of surfactants. And I am professionally engaged in the research of herbicide surfactant products. We are a manufacturer and research institution specializing in the production of herbicide surfactants.

[@404errorcodeV]

Is Roundup a surfactant? I live in Fl and the vines and runners are so invasive. Most of the vines leaves haves lots of holes in them so will that make Roundup and or a surfactant work better?

[@solutionspestandlawn]

Hi, thanks for watching! RoundUp alone is not a surfactant. There are some variations of RoundUp with a surfactant already mixed in, though. Be sure to read the label to see if a surfactant is already included. A surfactant is recommended as that will simply improve the effectiveness of the pesticide you use, but remember that a surfactant alone will not do anything. It's an additive meant to make the pesticide you use more effective.

[@404errorcodeV]

@@solutionspestandlawn I understand a surfactant to be like oiling up a pan before u put the rolls on the pan it's gone make it all work alot better. Am I correct on that? Please advise. Ty.

[@solutionspestandlawn]

@@404errorcodeV You're right in the sense that a surfactant will make your pesticide application work better -- it will help your application stick and spread on surfaces!