How to Use Surfactants for Pest Control

https://bit.ly/how-to-use-surfactants Click the link to learn more about surfactants and shop the professional-grade products featured in this video! Shop for Martin's Eraser here! https://bit.ly/2JhWVfD Shop for Reclaim IT Insecticide here! https://bit.ly/33xBBtp Shop for Alligare 90 Wetting Agent here! https://bit.ly/2Vm55G7 *** Want to skip ahead? Introduction: 0:00 What is a surfactant?: 0:38 How do surfactants work?: 1:35 How to use surfactants: 2:46 *** 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 https://bit.ly/how-to-use-surfactants Thanks for watching! #diypestcontrol #solutionspestandlawn #diylawncare