Prosecutor Pro Surfactant (Mixing Specs)

There is no safe, universal surfactant rate for this herbicide by product name alone. Check the container’s EPA Registration Number and current label first. The label determines whether extra surfactant is allowed or required, which type and rate to use, and how to mix and apply it. If the label does not direct added surfactant, do not add it.

The useful result is not simply a stronger spray mix. It is a mix that follows the product label, suits the target weed and site, and avoids injury to nearby plants or harm from drift and runoff. I treat the label as the job specification: until the product and intended use are confirmed, a mixing number is only a guess.

“Prosecutor Pro” by itself is not enough to identify the exact formulation or its current directions. Products can differ by registration, formulation, label revision, and permitted use. The steps below show what to check before mixing and how to proceed without substituting another product’s rate.

Confirm the product and label before mixing

The EPA Registration Number identifies the registered pesticide product more reliably than a brand name alone. The container label supplies the controlling directions for that product, including permitted sites, target weeds, application methods, protective equipment, and environmental precautions. Match the label to the container before measuring anything.

Find the EPA Registration Number on the container and compare it with the number on the label. Also note the active ingredient and concentration, and check the label revision or date. If you are in the United States, use the label attached to the product as your starting point; confirm that your intended site and use are allowed there. Rules may differ by jurisdiction.

Before mixing, answer these questions:

• Is this the exact product named on the container and label?
• Is the target weed listed, or otherwise covered by the label directions?
• Is the site allowed, such as a particular crop, non-crop area, or other labeled setting?
• Does the label allow the application method you plan to use?
• Does it direct you to add a surfactant, prohibit one, or say nothing about one?
• What PPE, drift controls, water protections, retreatment limits, and re-entry precautions apply?

If any answer is unclear, pause. Ask the product manufacturer, a qualified pesticide adviser, or your local pesticide regulator to help interpret the label. Do not use a rate found for a different product, even if the active ingredient sounds similar.

Why the formulation matters

Formulation means the complete product as sold, not just its active ingredient. Some herbicide formulations may already include surfactant or other ingredients that help the spray work. Adding more without label direction can change performance, increase plant injury, or conflict with the permitted use.

A surfactant is an adjuvant that can help droplets spread or stay on a leaf. Its effect depends on the formulation, target plant, water, and application method. More is not automatically better. An unapproved or excessive amount may increase uptake and injure desirable plants, and it may violate label directions.

Determine whether added surfactant is allowed

The label decides whether to use an added surfactant and, if so, which type and amount. Check the mixing directions and any notes for your target, site, and application method. Do not assume that a surfactant is needed because it is commonly used with another herbicide or formulation.

Look for terms such as “surfactant,” “adjuvant,” “nonionic surfactant,” or “additional wetting agent.” Read the full passage, including footnotes and restrictions. A direction may apply only to certain targets or application methods, while another section may limit or prohibit additives.

A rate from a web forum, another brand, or an old container is not a substitute for the current label. The same name may be sold in different formulations or under different registrations. Keep the container available when asking for help so the adviser can identify the exact product.

Calculate the labeled mix without guessing

The product rate, carrier volume, and any adjuvant rate are separate label-controlled details. The correct calculation depends on the labeled target, site, and application method. Without the exact directions, no defensible product or surfactant quantity can be supplied.

First identify which application method the label describes. Directions may use different units or rates for different methods. Do not transfer a rate between methods. Then record the label’s stated product rate and the amount of spray you intend to prepare.

If the label gives a rate per unit of carrier, calculate only from that labeled rate and volume. If it gives a rate by area, you also need to apply the label’s required carrier volume and calibrate the equipment so the treated area receives the intended amount. Follow any maximum application rate and retreatment interval.

Use dedicated, clearly marked measuring tools for pesticides. Do not use kitchen measures or tools that may later contact food or drink. Measure carefully, and keep the product in its original container until you are ready to use it.

Mixing sequence and equipment checks

Mixing order is not universal, so use the order printed on the label. Clean, calibrated equipment helps deliver the labeled application rate. Inspect the sprayer and its parts before filling, and keep people, pets, and desirable plants away as the label directs.

A practical pre-mix check is:

• Inspect the tank, hose, seals, fittings, and nozzle for leaks, cracks, or blockage.
• Confirm the nozzle and output suit the labeled application method.
• Calibrate the sprayer as directed for that method; do not rely on a guessed walking speed or spray pattern.
• Check the water-quality or mixing instructions, if the label provides them.
• Put on the PPE listed on the label before handling the product.

Then follow the label’s sequence for adding water, herbicide, and any authorized adjuvant. Mix as directed, and do not leave the spray unattended or allow it to contact people, animals, or surfaces not covered by the label. Do not combine products unless the label permits the tank mix and gives directions for it.

Apply with drift and runoff controls

Application directions cover more than the tank recipe. They also set limits on where, when, and how to spray. Follow the label’s weather, buffer, drift, water-protection, and re-entry directions, and treat only the labeled site and target.

Before spraying, look for wind or other conditions that could carry droplets onto crops, gardens, trees, or other desirable plants. Follow any label restrictions on wind, temperature, equipment, buffer zones, or nearby water. Avoid spraying where runoff could carry product into drains, waterways, or other protected areas.

Apply only to the target and site permitted by the label. Keep people and pets out of the area for the period the label specifies. If the label sets a re-entry interval, follow it even if the spray appears dry.

Two practical decision scenarios

These are decision examples, not reports of actual applications or product-specific rates. They show how the label changes the next step. In both cases, the product name alone does not answer whether a separate surfactant belongs in the tank.

• A container gives a labeled use and a specific adjuvant direction. Match the product number, target, and method. Use the stated adjuvant type and rate, then follow the label’s mixing order and precautions.
• A container identifies the herbicide, but the surfactant question is not clear. Do not add an adjuvant to “improve” performance. Check the full label or contact the manufacturer with the registration number and intended use.

This small pause can prevent a costly mistake: an unapproved additive may harm plants outside the target area, while a mistaken rate can make the whole batch unsuitable for use.

Clean, store, and dispose of materials safely

After application, follow the label for equipment cleaning, leftover spray, rinsate, and container disposal. Rinsate is liquid from rinsing pesticide equipment or containers. Never send it to a drain, waterway, or untreated area unless the label specifically permits that disposal method.

Clean the tank, hose, and nozzle as the label directs. Manage the rinsate according to those directions and local rules; do not discharge it where it could reach storm drains, surface water, or plants not covered by the label. If spray remains, do not pour it out or apply it beyond the labeled rate or area. Follow the label’s disposal instructions.

Store the product closed in its original, labeled container and in the conditions stated on the label. Keep it secured as directed and away from children, animals, food, and feed. Do not transfer it to a drink bottle or other unmarked container.

If you want an exact mixing calculation, provide a clear photo or transcription of the EPA Registration Number and the relevant label directions, plus the target weed, site, and application method. Those details are needed before a rate can be checked.

Frequently asked questions

These answers focus on the information needed to mix safely. The container label remains the authority for the exact product, rate, site, and application method. If a label passage is unclear or missing, verify it before preparing a spray mix.

What is the surfactant mixing rate for this product?
There is no reliable universal rate from the product name alone. Use the rate, if any, on the exact container label.

Can I add surfactant if the label does not mention it?
Do not add it without label authorization. Ask the manufacturer or a qualified pesticide adviser if you are unsure how to read the directions.

Does the herbicide already contain surfactant?
That depends on the exact formulation. Check the container and label; do not assume that a product with a familiar name has the same ingredients as another version.

Can I use a surfactant rate from another glyphosate product?
No. Formulations and label directions can differ. Use only directions that apply to the exact product and registration.

What information is needed to verify a mix?
Provide the EPA Registration Number, relevant label text, target weed, site, and application method. A clear container-label photo can help identify the directions.

Does the application method change the rate?
It can. Follow the rate and carrier directions for the method named on the label. Do not transfer a rate from one method to another.

Can extra surfactant improve weed control?
Do not add extra product for that reason unless the label directs it. More surfactant can increase injury to desirable plants and may violate the label.

How should I clean the sprayer afterward?
Use the label’s cleaning directions. Manage all rinsate and leftover spray as directed, and never discharge it to a drain or waterway.

Can I spray near water or desirable plants?
Only if the label permits the use and you follow its water-protection and drift restrictions. Keep spray off non-target plants.

What should I do if the label is unreadable?
Do not mix or apply the product until you verify the correct label and directions with the manufacturer or relevant pesticide authority.

(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Victor Dempsey. Visit our Meet the Team page.)