Optimizing Herbicide Performance with the Right Adjuvants

Herbicide applications are a critical component of turf management, but achieving maximum efficacy isn’t just about choosing the right active ingredient—it’s also about how that product is delivered. The right adjuvant can enhance herbicide performance by improving spray coverage, reducing drift, and increasing absorption.

Heritage Landscape Supply carries a variety of high-quality adjuvants designed to optimize your herbicide applications. Here’s a breakdown of the best pairings for common herbicides and why they work:

Strike 3 + Droplex Xtra or Gulfstream Free

Why Use Strike 3?

Strike 3 is a broad-spectrum, three-way selective herbicide that targets tough broadleaf weeds in cooland warm-season turfgrass. Active Ingredients are:

• 2,4-D
• MCPA
• Dicamba
 

To maximize Strike 3’s effectiveness, it's important to use the right adjuvants.

Droplex Xtra: Drift Control and Deposition Aid

Spray drift is a common issue with herbicide applications, particularly with selective herbicides like Strike 3. Droplex Xtra helps control spray drift by creating ideal droplet size and improving deposition. Here’s how:

• Reduces driftable fines – Smaller droplets can be carried away by wind, leading to off-target damage. Droplex Xtra increases droplets to an ideal size range, reducing the risk of herbicide loss.
• Improves canopy penetration – uniform droplets ensure the herbicide moves into the lower foliage without bouncing off.
• Enhances rainfastness – Once applied, Strike 3 is shown to be more effective and resist wash-off from light rain or irrigation if tank mixed with Droplex Xtra.

Gulfstream Free: Non-Ionic Surfactant for Better Absorption

A non-ionic surfactant (NIS) like Gulfstream Free is crucial for herbicides that need to spread evenly over the leaf surface. It works by:

• Breaking down surface tension – Ensuring the herbicide spreads uniformly over the leaf.
• Improving uptake – Contacting more pore space allows for more herbicide uptake by the plant.
• Protecting from UV-induced photodegradation – Sunlight can degrade certain pesticides if they are not taken up by the plant before the droplet dries or evaporates off of the leaf surface.
 

Bottom line: Use Droplex Xtra to maximize pore coverage, minimize drift and improve deposition, and Gulfstream Free to maximize absorption and spread when applying Strike 3.

Glyphosate + Breeze XL and Droplex

Why Use Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used non-selective herbicides, targeting nearly all plant species. However, its performance can be affected by water quality and spray drift.

Breeze XL: Water Conditioner and Surfactant

One of the biggest challenges with glyphosate is hard water. Calcium, magnesium, and iron in water can bind to glyphosate molecules, reducing their availability and overall effectiveness. If hard water is present at the time of mixing, a glyphosate application can become noticeably less effective. This can cause the applicator to questions if they mixed the proper rate, or if they need to upgrade to a more expensive product. When in fact the product would have worked at full effect if the water had been properly conditioned prior to adding the glyphosate.

Breeze XL solves this problem by:

• Binding hard water ions – Preventing them from deactivating glyphosate.
• Acting as a surfactant – Improving coverage and absorption on plant surfaces.
• Reducing pH – Lowering spray solution pH to enhance herbicide stability and uptake.
 

Droplex: Drift Control and Deposition Aid

As a systemic herbicide, glyphosate works best when absorbed thoroughly by the plant. Droplex ensures more glyphosate reaches the intended target by:

• Minimizing fine droplets – Reducing spray drift and loss due to wind.
• Improving canopy penetration – Ensuring glyphosate reaches the base of dense weed growth.
• Enhancing uniformity – Providing even droplet distribution for more consistent weed control.

Bottom line: Breeze XL reduces the possibility of glyphosate tying up with hard water cations and improves absorption, while Droplex ensures better spray deposition and drift reduction. Properly conditioning hard water prior to mixing in the glyphosate can make for more effective spray applications and fewer call backs.

Quinclorac + Turbulence

Why Use Quinclorac?

Quinclorac is a selective post-emergent herbicide used primarily for controlling crabgrass and other grassy weeds. While highly effective, its performance can be limited by the hairy or waxy cuticle of grass weeds, which can repel water-based herbicides.

Turbulence: combines Methylated Seed Oil (MSO) & Organosilicon surfactants

To break through the protective barriers of tough grassy weeds, Turbulence is the best choice. As an MSO-based adjuvant, Turbulence:

• Maximum coverage on leaf tissue – Breaks down the surface tension of droplets for maximum spread on the leaf surface including sometimes wrapping around foliage to the underside.
• Enhances herbicide uptake – Ensuring more active ingredient contacts more pores on the plant.
• Outstanding performance in hot conditions – great control of hard to kill weeds in tough environmental conditions such as low humidity and high temperatures.

Since quinclorac works by mimicking auxins (plant growth hormones), rapid absorption is crucial for controlling crabgrass before it matures. Turbulence ensures the herbicide moves into the plant quickly and effectively.

Bottom line: If you’re applying quinclorac, Turbulence is a must-have to improve penetration and absorption, leading to better weed control.

Final Thoughts: Get the Most from Every Application

The right adjuvants can increase herbicide effectiveness, reduce waste, and improve overall application efficiency. Whether you’re applying Strike 3, glyphosate, or quinclorac, selecting the best adjuvant pairing ensures you get the best possible results:

• For general use, Strike 3, Droplex Xtra, or Gulfstream Free are excellent choices as they reduce drift, improve spread, and enhance absorption. 
• When applying glyphosate, Breeze XL combined with Droplex is effective in preventing hard water issues, improving deposition, and reducing drift. 
• For quinclorac applications, Turbulence is recommended to maximize spray coverage on hairy or waxy leaf surfaces, enhance herbicide uptake, and deliver proven performance in tough conditions.

At Heritage Landscape Supply, we provide premium adjuvants to help you make every spray count. Visit your nearest branch for expert recommendations and product solutions tailored to your turf management needs!