dyeing herbicides?

drygulch

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A few years ago I decided to put some Rit dye in my herbicide pump sprayer so I could identify what I'd hit already. I've been super happy with the results, and maybe paid for the dye by not double-treating plants/weeds in the open areas I've treated.

Anybody else tried this? It's even better to know if any ends up on your clothes or skin.

Greg
 
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old and tired

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I have some dye, 6 oz of both red and blue... but have not used it yet. Mainly just using RoundUp on the driveway so easy enough to keep track of what's been done. It's pretty old and forgot what rate we used it at.... maybe some day.
 
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Hoserman

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That's a good idea. I'm guilty of forgetting where I have sprayed. With this info that won't happen again. Thanks.
 
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ken erickson

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I use a commercial marking dye for spot spraying out of a 4 gallon backpack sprayer.

Very economical. The dye washes off with soap and water and the wash machine will remove it. About 60 cents for 4 gallons. I could probably cut this back to 1/2 to 2/3rds of a oz for the 4 gallons.

I use 1oz per four gallons of herbicide mix.
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PoTreeBoy

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I have blue aqueous dye and red oil-base dye (from when I was using diesel fuel with herbicide on cut stumps). The blue doesn't work well with oil. The blue seems to fade in sunlight after about 24 hours. Never thought about using Rit.
 
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Russell King

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I also use a blue dye in the pump sprayer. It can make quite the mess if you are not careful and steady handed.

The most important thing I have discovered about handling it is to rinse the bottle off after every pour. If not it tends to spread like a COVID virus = everywhere!

It does go away in the sunlight after a few days but is great at saving time and herbicide usage since you know what was sprayed!

I have wiped out some invasive non-natives by pulling and propane torch burning (beggar’s lice/Torilis japonica (Hedge Parsley)) was about a five year battle to get it nearly eradicated. For herbicides it has been Johnson grass, Chinaberry trees and currently in a battle with KR Bluestem. The trees were pretty easy and the Johnson grass took a good three years to get under control but still see some spring up every couple of years. The KR bluestem is difficult to keep up with, it spreads quickly and looks like other grasses in the field until it goes to seed. But I will keep after it until either it or I are gone.
 
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RCW

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Putting a dye in a herbicide is a great idea.

I don't spray much but it would certainly help.
 
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ChiefWebb

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How long does the Rit dye last on a concrete or gravel driveway surface?
 

jyoutz

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Yes, using dye is very helpful. But I used a purple dye that is specifically developed for mixing with herbicides. It’s easily visible for awhile after spraying, but then fades out so that everything isn’t a color patch.
 
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