Henry Rifle Forums

A few days ago, my wife and I went to her cabin in western North Carolina and I spayed the vegetation encroaching the home owners community road ways with 2-4-D. I used 2-4-D because that was what I found in the basement although I recalled it was glyphosate (generic roundup), not 2-4-D. My memory betrayed me again.

I didn't want to drop the trailer, drive to the closest Tractor Supply and rehitch the trailer on my return so I used the 2-4-D.

I usually associate glyphosate with grasses and 2-4-D with broad leaf vegetation.

My question is this. Will 2-4-D kill grasses? I mixed it according to directions (about one ounce to the gallon, maybe a drop or two more). Also, I don't think there was a surfactant added to the product like Tractor Supply's 41% glyphosate.

There was some broadleaf vegetation but the majority was grass. I hope I didn't waste product, gasoline and time.

It won't harm healthy growing grasses.

Rats

Be careful using 2-4D on hot days (above85), it can volatilize and drift and harm other plants.

For my trails in the woods, I mix a tank that has both glyphosate and 2-4-D and add a teaspoon of Dawn dish detergent. I have to spray the trails in early May, mid July, and mid September but it keeps them clear of vines, saplings, and weeds.

Steve51 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 09, 2026 9:02 am

For my trails in the woods, I mix a tank that has both glyphosate and 2-4-D and add a teaspoon of Dawn dish detergent. I have to spray the trails in early May, mid July, and mid September but it keeps them clear of vines, saplings, and weeds.

Does the Dawn help it stick better?

That is why I use it - don't know if it actually helps.

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 09, 2026 9:05 am

Steve51 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 09, 2026 9:02 am

For my trails in the woods, I mix a tank that has both glyphosate and 2-4-D and add a teaspoon of Dawn dish detergent. I have to spray the trails in early May, mid July, and mid September but it keeps them clear of vines, saplings, and weeds.

Does the Dawn help it stick better?

Yes, it acts as a surfactant. Tractor Supply's generic 41% glyphosate has a surfactant added but their 53% (54% ?) does not. I add a squirt of dish detergent on the rare occasions I buy TS's 53% glyphosate.

I think it is no more efficient to buy the 53% product than the 41% product with surfactant.

Also, I have been told that if you have hard water, to put a bit of ammonium sulfate (ammonium nitrate ?) to the water tank before adding the product. I can't explain it, I don't understand it but I think it has something to do with atoms or ions bonding.

Maybe a real farmer can explain it.

HenryFan wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 09, 2026 9:47 am

Also, I have been told that if you have hard water, to put a bit of ammonium sulfate (ammonium nitrate ?) to the water tank before adding the product. I can't explain it, I don't understand it but I think it has something to do with atoms or ions bonding.

Maybe a real farmer can explain it.

The minerals in hard water diminish the effectiveness of 2-4-d. The sulfate gives the minerals in hard water something else to bind to.

Mags -

Thanx!

Thanks Mags.