Glyphosate Shelf Life

[JRobyn]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if glyphosate (Round-Up) has a shelf life or expiration? I have a 2 1/2gal jug that is about 3 or 4 years old. It has been keep tightly closed in a cool basement. Is it still usable?

Jay

 

[johnnyvol]

Probably not going to hurt to use it. I'm pretty sure I've used some that old or older. Aside from time what have you got to lose?

 

[smstonypoint]

I have heard numerous shelf lives bandied about -- anywhere from 2 to 8 years. I don't think the label says.

You should be good to go.

Steve

 

[RickB]

I used some this spring that was 3-4 years old and subjected to freezing temps or whatever else came along in our unheated garage. It worked very well in spite of my lousy storage habits.

 

[DrRod]

As a side question, what about if you mixed it with water. I buy concentrate and dillute it in the sprayer. I left some over winter [I know, its a bad practice] and wondered if it would still be good.

 

[smstonypoint]

As a side question, what about if you mixed it with water. I buy concentrate and dillute it in the sprayer. I left some over winter [I know, its a bad practice] and wondered if it would still be good.

It should still work. They sell premixed Roundup in gallon sprayers at Lowes, etc. I'm guessing that product doesn't have a particularly short shelf life.

I would just shake the sprayer to disperse the glyphosate and have at it.


Steve

 

[hosspuller]

About mixed Glyphosate ... I had some left-over from a weed-wiper that I stored in a jug over the winter. Seemed to form a scummy mass that clogged the sprayer strainer. I filtered it and used it without further issue. It killed the weeds I sprayed.

 

[smstonypoint]

About mixed Glyphosate ... I had some left-over from a weed-wiper that I stored in a jug over the winter. Seemed to form a scummy mass that clogged the sprayer strainer. I filtered it and used it without further issue. It killed the weeds I sprayed.

Did the glyphosate freeze while in storage?

Steve

 

[mmurphydds]

About mixed Glyphosate ... I had some left-over from a weed-wiper that I stored in a jug over the winter. Seemed to form a scummy mass that clogged the sprayer strainer. I filtered it and used it without further issue. It killed the weeds I sprayed.

I regret to say that I have mistreated Glyphosate over the years in a number of ways, and I have never been let down by it the following season(s). As to freezing...the 2 1/2 gal jugs are great for adding some water to the residual Glyphosate and then shaking the bejeezus out of it before adding it to the tank...no problems. The surfactant they sell to tank mix with it helps to keep it in solution (as well as stick to plants better). Agitation in the tank helps out a lot, too. Good luck, and don't fret too much.

 

[Dingeryote]

This spring while working through a skid of Simtrol(Dry) we bought in 06', I found 4 Cases of 41% Glyphosate in the mix I had forgot about.
Our Chem Barn is unheated, and uninsulated, so the stuff has been through at least 7 annual freeze cycles.

Did a couple quick compatability checks with it just to be sure, and mixed in with the AMS as normal. I'm chasing with a mid season spray to nail the sedge, and established perennials anyhow, so I figured why not run it.
Worked just fine, and whacked everything but the Dogbane,Sedge, milkweed, and bindweed....just like brand new.

One thing to look for with old Glyphos, is incompatability with 2-4-D. For some reason, and outta the blue, some older glyphos will just quit getting along, and gel up into a snotty mess when mixed. Have seen it a couple times when using older stuff and 2-4-D in backpack sprayers used for spot Kill on brambles and Sumac. Nothing sucks the fun out of an afternoon like de-mungifying 3 Back pack sprayers, while a crew waits.
I now check before even using the new stuff. Dosn't seem to be a problem with anything else though, and the stuff that reacts, still works on weeds straight up.

Best way to dispose of old herbicides, is to use them. If they work, all is good. If they don't, you were gonna get rid of the stuff any way.

Good luck with yours!