Herbicide enhancers, often referred to as adjuvants or application improvers, are substances added to herbicides to improve their effectiveness and/or their physical characteristics.
They are designed to ensure that herbicide works as efficiently and effectively as possible from the spray tank to the target site - without wasting any of the herbicide product.
How Herbicide Enhancers Work
Herbicide enhancers serve several key functions to maximise the performance of weed killers. Note that no single adjuvant does every process in the list below. You will need to select the right type of adjuvant depending on your needs:
- Improving herbicide uptake (penetrants/activators): They help the herbicide penetrate the waxy leaf surface of the weed, increasing the amount of chemical that gets absorbed into the plant.
- Water conditioning: They counteract the negative effects of hard water. These minerals can bind with some herbicides, especially glyphosate, reducing their effectiveness. Water conditioners ‘tie up’ or neutralise these mineral ions, allowing the herbicide to remain active.
- Sticking: They help the herbicide adhere to the plant surface, reducing the chance of it washing off in rain or irrigation.
- Drift Reduction: Some enhancers help reduce the number of very fine spray droplets that can drift away from the target area.
- Spreaders: Spreaders increase the coverage of the spray droplets over the target surface.
Activate-G
Activate-G has been specially formulated to combine with the active ingredient of herbicides to improve their uptake into the plant.
This is done in two ways, firstly by stopping the pesticide 'locking up' when used in areas of hard water. Secondly, it helps the herbicide absorb into the plant using its unique 'uptake system'.
Using Activate-G can be very useful when trying to control tough, waxy plants, or when trying to penetrate large, dense foliage.
Activated ammonium sulphate is a common active ingredient in herbicide enhancers (particularly those used with total herbicides containing glyphosate), and it is the active ingredient in Activate-G.
Activated ammonium sulphate is highly effective as a water conditioner. In addition, the ammonium ions are believed to play a role in increasing the absorption and translocation (movement) of the herbicide into and throughout the plant, even when using distilled water (which lacks mineral ions).
This helps the chemical reach the site of action in the plant more quickly and effectively.
Products containing activated ammonium sulphate are generally recommended for use with non-selective herbicides. Their use with selective herbicides is not always recommended, particularly when treating young grass. Always check the label carefully to confirm compatibility and consult specialists for advice relating to your herbicide project.
Using Activate-G
Once you have confirmed the compatibility of Activate-G with your chosen herbicide, check the mixing rates and mixing order – as this is critical to ensure effective application. Ask our technical team for this information if you are unsure.
A typical mixing order for a product like Activate-G in a knapsack or boom sprayer is as follows:
- Half-fill the spray tank with clean water and begin agitation.
- Add the required amount of Activate-G to the tank. Ensure it is completely dissolved or dispersed.
- Add the measured amount of the herbicide to the tank.
- Add the remaining amount of water to reach the final volume, while continuing to agitate.
- Maintain agitation during application and use the tank mix promptly.
Mixing Activate-G with herbicides such as glyphosate and other grassland products has significantly enhanced the speed and effectiveness of the herbicide.
Typically, adding Activate-G has been shown to increase the activity of herbicides by 7-10 days and helped reduce the time taken for the herbicide to dry on the leaf by several hours. This can be particularly helpful in poor weather conditions.
In summary, Activate-G has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of herbicides by around 25%. If you have a particularly tough weed killing challenge, or you live in an area with hard water, consider using Activate-G with your herbicide for vastly improved results.
This guide was written in collaboration with Ollie Wright.
Ollie Wright MBPR, FQA
Ollie Wright serves as the Technical Manager at Agrigem, where he oversees the integrity and accuracy of the company’s technical output. A recognised figure within the UK turf-growing sector, Ollie leads Agrigem’s technical response, ensuring that all guidance provided to retail and trade clients remains rigorous, compliant, and at the forefront of industry standards.
With a career built on a foundation of practical experience in farming and landscaping - including the successful management of his own firm - Ollie bridges the gap between theoretical science and field application. His extensive hands-on background is reinforced by industry credentials, including RHS Horticulture, amenity turf and hard surface BASIS, and FACTS qualifications. This unique combination of expertise allows him to deliver high-level strategic advice across diverse sectors regarding plant protection products and complex legislative requirements.
Article Notes:
- Activate-G is a trademark of Agrigem Ltd.
- Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. For label and safety information, refer to the manufacturer’s website.
- Only certified users may apply professional plant protection products. Find out more about safe use of pesticides here.
