Roundup Glop

[Panik]

Has anyone had much luck trying to get Roundup/generic glyphosphate to re-dissolve after it has sat and started to form a slimy white film?

I went to use my 15ga sprayer for the first time this spring and after an hour or so use I noticed the pressure and output had decreased. Figured that because I was running a longer than recommended hose for the 1ga./minute pump that I had probably exceeded its abilities. Went to TSC this morning to pick up the next size larger bypass pump and in the process of getting it installed noticed that the tank strainer basket was clogged with white gunk.

After doing a bit of reading realized I had had a "Duh" moment and probably should have checked the strainer first prior to running out and getting a new pump. I also should have dumped the tank after last season..... I'm still somewhere low on th learning curve. Anyways it was a excuse to upgrade pumps because I hadn't really liked the on demand pump that had come with the tank.

Anyways, I do realize that the common recommendation is to mix fresh each time. I was just wondering if anyone had tried rigging a recirculating/mixing line on their spray setup and if doing so might help to re-suspend Roundup mix that had been sitting for a while?

 

[luvmexfood]

On the higher concentrates of round-up ready mix they recommend to shake vigoursly. The lower concetrates (regular round-up) they say to not let it freeze. You may have to run a little straight water through the system to rinse it out good and go with fresh concentrate. Just watch where you rinse it because it is non-selective.

Round-up has a new concentrate that kills for 365 days. Course you can't plant anything in that area for at least 365 days. Not available in New York. Regular Round-up does cost a little more but you are getting a superior product in my opinion.

 

[Panik]

Thanks for the response. I've been using one of the TSC concentrate knockoff's. Regardless the mix in the tank did freeze over the winter, so I am going to clean the tank and start with a fresh batch. I'm considering purchasing 15ga of DI water from the grocery store for giggles and see if that might help with the precipitation issue.

While I have it emoty I need to plumb in a drain line so that it doesn't drain all over the carryall, and if I can find the nylon fittings I might as well plumb in a recirculating/mixing line.

 

[oosik]

I have a 45 gallon Demco sprayer with a high pressure recirculating system that is built in. It is the only way to go for mixing and cleaning the system. I have never stored mixed product of any type for over a week. Lord knows what some of this stuff becomes after a weeks storage. Anyhow, my sprayer came with so many valves to direct product here & there I almost have to relearn the sprayer plumbing each spring. I use strictly commercial Roundup which is somewhere around 95% active ingredient.I certainly would not recommend the storage of any mixed product for anytime longer than a week and thoroughly clean the sprayer and all piping after each use. Other than the mixed product becoming - who knows what - after long storage; it will have a tendency to glop up and plug things up. I would not worry about saving the generic roundup - work on getting your sprayer cleaned/unplugged and working again. Be VERY careful where any of the cleanup wash water goes. If you are going to store any mixed product - store it in an appropriate container OTHER THAN the sprayer mix/storage tank. I have no experience with attempts to reliquify a mixed product either for reuse or disposal.

 

[slowzuki]

I've got RTU round up that is 3 years old. It freezes each winter. Still works the same. Did it settle or dry out?

 

[wngsprd]

I had over a gallon of mixed generic glyphosate leftover from mixing up 50 gallons at 2%. I drained it into a storage container and the glop formed after a month or so in summer. I poured it out over some poison ivy to get rid of both. I always clean my tank and pump after each use.

 

[oosik]

Don't mention poison ivy. We have poison oak here and I'm deathly allergic to the stuff. Hummm. I use commercial grade Roundup (looks and pours like cold maple syrup) and never had "glop" form in my storage container. Wonder if it has anything to do with the water we use. If I'm making a full batch(45 gal) I use water out of the irrigation system which comes out of my lake. If its a small batch I use house water which come from a spring. My concentrate Roundup is kept in the basement under the house so it never freezes. I guess if you get glop - its good to store any extra in a container beyond the sprayer and be certain to wash out the sprayer etc well.

 

[Panik]

I've got RTU round up that is 3 years old. It freezes each winter. Still works the same. Did it settle or dry out?

It settled out and formed a slimy film, and appears to be a bit less effective. This is the first time that I have ever had this happen. Then again this is the first year where I have lived where it has gotten below 32 for an extended period of time. When I was in FL I would keep a a gallon or so of mix in a labelled sprayer and never had a problem with it settling or losing efficacy.

If I were to guess I think it has to do with the freezing, possibly local water chemistry, and maybe any adjuvant the manufacturer added. In any case I'm not going to try and reinvent the wheel here. As has been recommended by other posters in this thread I will start mixing smaller amounts and try not to store any long term.

Now that I have the spray tank cleaned out I'm not going to go through the effort of adding plumbing for recirculating or any of that jazz if I'm just going to dump and remainders. By the way does anyone know what glyphosphate breaks down into when in the soil. Its my understanding that it can persist in soil for up to around 174 days.

 

[luvmexfood]

Several factors can come into play on how long it lasts. How strong was the mix? Was it sprayed in an amount that exceeded the recommed application rate. For example, round-up has several different strengths. Regular round-up can be replanted over in 3-4 days if applied properly, round-up extended control can be replanted over in 3-4 months and round-up 365 kills for a year.

 

[Panik]

Regular round-up can be replanted over in 3-4 days if applied properly, round-up extended control can be replanted over in 3-4 months and round-up 365 kills for a year.

Appreciate the info. I was less thinking about how it affects sprayed areas and more about the fate of any surplus roundup that I might have in the future when I get down spraying. I do realize that it breaks down, just still feel a bit weird about dumping excess mixed chemical after a spray session.