Surfactant

Spraying weeds on your lawn with herbicides can be frustrating when the chemical doesn’t stick to the plant the way you want it to. This is when it is useful to mix your preferred herbicide with a surfactant for better results.

On this page, you will learn about surfactants, how they work, their benefits, and what to expect when applying them. Here, you can also shop the top surfactant products we have in stock.

What is a Surfactant?

A surfactant (also known as an emulsifier or wetting agent) is a form of chemical adjuvant that acts as a buffer, breaking up the surface tension of a liquid. A surfactant is a mishmash of the phrase “surface active agent,” an organic compound soluble in chemical solutions or water that allows mixtures to blend, adhere, and work better. In lawn and garden herbicides, this wetting agent is used to help break down the plant’s resistance to absorbing the chemical being applied to it.

Surfactants can either be ionic, meaning they contain an atomic electric charge, or non-ionic, meaning they contain no charge. Ionic surfactants are usually found in liquid detergents and dish soaps. Non-ionic surfactants are generally mixed with herbicide solutions to improve performance. Non-ionics are traditionally the preferred choice because they are better with spray equipment, are less likely to foam up, and have low toxicity when applied to plants.

Surfactants are liquids that can be mixed with herbicides or other pesticides. Some herbicides actually need surfactants to work, but other products might already have them. This is why it is important to read product labels before adding or mixing anything with your selected herbicide. 

How Do Surfactants Work?

Surfactants are most helpful when treating problematic weeds. For maximum effectiveness, an herbicide has to come in contact with plant leaves and stay on leaves long enough to seep into the plant and reach the parts of the plant that will damage or disrupt a vital process. The waxy exterior layer of plants and the cuticle of leaves block the way of these chemicals.

The waxy layer and cuticle provide a strong barrier that keeps water and most herbicides from passing through. Water, for instance, when coming into contact with waxy surfaces, tends to transform into beads that bounce or roll off the plant because of water’s high surface tension. This is similar to applying wax on your car, which makes water roll off rather than stick around to dry. 

On the plant management side of things, this bouncing and rolling prevents weeds from dying. Even worse, desired plants may die from frustratingly overapplying weed killers, hoping for a miracle, resulting in a large waste of money. This is where a surfactant can come in and generously assist.

Surfactants enhance pesticides and help break the barrier of hard-to-penetrate surfaces, like the waxy surface of a leaf. Adding just a touch of surfactant can increase the effectiveness of all your herbicides by breaking the surface tension of the herbicide and leaf surface. This allows the spray to coat a leaf surface evenly without beading up or rolling off.

Benefits of Surfactants

Applying a surfactant allows the herbicide of choice to stick around on the leaf surface long enough to be absorbed by the weed. This significantly increases the herbicide's killing power and reduces the chance of the solution running off and affecting desired plants. 

Drawbacks of Surfactants

Surfactants cannot be used to treat undesired vegetation or pests on their own; they are merely a wetting agent to improve the effectiveness of a pesticide's active ingredient. When mixing with a pesticide, using the proper application rate is important, as overapplying can damage desirable vegetation.

Are Surfactants Safe?

Surfactants are safe to use when applied according to label directions. Always wear proper safety equipment when handling and mixing surfactants with pesticides. This includes eye protection, proper attire to protect skin, and, in some cases, masks for respiratory protection.

Don’t apply herbicides in drought or conditions that might prevent plant growth. Windy days can be dangerous for application, as the chemicals can drift to desirable plants and in living areas where pets and children might be. Keep kids and pets away from treated areas for a few days to ensure safety.

What To Expect

• When using a surfactant with an herbicide, spray directly onto the foliage of individual plants on all sides, contacting the growing tips and bud terminals. Make sure the leaves are completely covered in the product.
• Timing is also essential to weed control, so you should apply herbicides when plants are actively growing. Applying in the springtime is ideal since plants are emerging or at the beginning of fall when plants are storing nutrients in preparation for winter.
• Don’t apply herbicides in drought or conditions that might prevent plant growth. Windy days can be dangerous for application, as the chemicals can drift to desirable plants and in living areas where pets and children might be. Keep kids and pets away from treated areas for a few days to ensure safety.
• Always wear proper safety equipment when handling pesticides. This includes eye protection, proper attire to protect the skin, and, in some cases, masks for respiratory protection.

Featured Products

Nanotek Surfactant - Nanotek Surfactant is a non-ionic no foam surfactant. It increases herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, and pesticides to spread quickly on treated surfaces at minimum application rates.