What is the dilution ratio for Karmex weedkiller?
There is no simple answer to this question (although I will give
you one in a second...). All users of Round-up or any other weed
killer should carefully read the "Product Label" before using. This
is a 20-or so page legal document, and has a lot of important
information that is not on ready-to-use versions of the product
(like you shouldn't plant your tomatoes for 30 days after using
round-up). There are maximum annual application amounts, varying
dilutions for different weeds, and considerations including
rainfall, water bodies, whether you are going to grow food crops
etc. So get out a pencil and a pad of paper, and search for "Round
Up Original Product Label" and do your homework. That said, for
most weeds, the application rate is either 1.5% or 2% product
diluted in water. Adjuvents (soaps) are not required. So if you are
using a back-pack sprayer, you want to convert gallons to ounces :
1 gallon = 128 ounces, 2 gallons = 2 x 128 ounces = 256 ounces 3
gallons = 3 x 128 ounces = 384 ounces To figure out the dilution,
choose 1.5% for fairly small, not-so-tough weeds and grasses, and
2% for woody, brushy, or thick, heavy grass over 12" (this is just
a rule of thumb--you SHOULD read the label. 1.5% is the same as
0.015 "times" the total volume. 1.5% of 1 gallon: 0.015 x 128oz =
1.92 oz WOW! That's a really small amount. Is that correct? YES!
That's all you need! Round that number up to 2 ounces, and you see
that even a large, 4 gallon back-pack sprayer only needs 8 ounces
of round-up at this dilution. 2% of 1 gallon: 0.02 x 128 oz = 2.56
oz. (Round that off to 2.5 ounces). Not much difference, right? But
it makes a big difference to the plants, so if there's any chance
you might accidentally hit your garden beauties, choose the weaker
dilution, and if that doesn't work, inch up next time. My
understanding is that IT is ILLEGAL to use more than 2%
dilution!
