Pesticides Calculations

for Homeowners
Joe Masabni
UKREC
Princeton, KY

Joe Masabni
 Pesticides for Homeowners
• Rates are given in tsp or tbsp per gal for dry
products and oz per gal for liquid products
products.
Rates can also be given per area.

• Examples:
– Sevin - 2.25
2 25 lb/1000 sq.ft.
sq ft
– Weed B Gone - 1 oz / gal / 400 sq.ft.

• Ready-to-Use products are becoming more

common because of their ease of use.
use
Joe Masabni
 Commercial Pesticides
• Rates on commercial packages are given
in lbs / 100 gal of water.
• Rates are also given in the amount of
pesticide to use per acre in a given
amount of water.

• Examples:
– Sevin 4F: 1-2 qt / A
– Roundup WeatherMax: 11-32 oz / A

Joe Masabni
 Commercial Pesticides
• Difficulty arises when you read:
"Use 1 lb per 100 gal of water"
but you need only 1 gal.

• The next chart helps when converting to

smaller spray volume mixes.

Joe Masabni
Formulation 100 gal 5 gal 3 gal 1 gal
5 lbs 15 tbsp 9 tbsp 3 tbsp
4 lbs 13 tbsp 8 tbsp 8 tsp
Wettable 3 lbs 10 tbsp 6 tbsp 2 tbsp
Powder 2 lbs 8 tbsp 4 tbsp 4 tsp
1 lb 3 tbsp 6 tsp 2 tsp
1/2 lb 5 tsp 1 tsp 1 tsp
5 gal 1 qt 1 1/4 pt 13 tbsp
4 gal 1 1/2 pt 1 pt 10 tbsp
3 gal 1 1/4 pt 3/4 pt 1/4 pt
Emulsifiable
ifi
Concentrate
2 gal 3/4 pt 1/2 pt 5 tbsp
1 gal 1/2 pt 8 tbsp 3 tbsp
1 qt 3 tbsp 2 tbsp 2 tsp
1 pt 5 tsp
Joe Masabni 1 tsp 1 tsp
For dry formulations,
formulations it is difficult to
measure tsp
p or tbsp
p required
q for 1
gal of water when the rate is 1
pound per 100 gal

Joe Masabni
 US Standards

Dry Formulations Measurement Equivalents

1 lb = 16 oz

Sample
p Calculations for Determiningg Pesticide
Concentration
g
1 lb of fungicide p
per 100 ggal of water
= 16 oz per 100 gal
= 1.6 oz p
per 10 ggal
= 0.16 oz per 1 gal

Joe Masabni
 Metric Standards

Dry Formulations Measurement Equivalents

1 lb = 16 oz = 454 g
1 oz = 28.4 g

Sample Calculations for Determining Pesticide

Concentration
1 lb of fungicide per 100 gal of water
= 454 g per
p 100 ggal
= 4.5 g per 1 gal

Joe Masabni
For liquid formulations
formulations, it is possible
to calculate down to tbsp
p and tsp.
p

Joe Masabni
 US Standards
Liquid Formulations Measurement Equivalents
1 gal = 4 qt = 8 pt = 16 cups = 128 fl.oz.
1 qt = 2 pt = 4 cups = 32 fl.oz.
1 fl
fl.oz. = 2 tbsp
tb
1 cup = 8 fl.oz. = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp
1 tbsp = 3 tsp

Sample
p Calculations for Determiningg Pesticide
Concentration
1 qt of pesticide per 100 gal of water
= 32 fl.oz. per 100 gal
= 0.32 fl.oz. per 1 gal
= 1.92
1 92 or 2 tsp
t per 1 gall
Joe Masabni
 Metric Standards
Liquid Formulations Measurement Equivalents
1 gal = 4 qt = 8 pt = 16 cups = 128 fl.oz. = 3785 ml
1 qt = 946 ml
1 ptt = 473 mll
1 cup = 237 ml
1 fl.oz. = 29.6 ml
1 tbsp = 14.8 ml
1 tsp = 4.9 ml
Sample Calculations for Determining Pesticide
Concentration
1 qt of pesticide per 100 gal of water
= 946 ml per 100 gal
= 9.5
9 5 mll per 1 gall
Joe Masabni
 Why are Calculations Important?

Using just the right amount of pesticide and

fertilizer:
• minimizes the potential for
f personal,
property,
p ope ty, or
o environmental
e o e ta damage
da age and
a d
• maximizes consumer’s return on the dollar.

Joe Masabni
 How Do I Calculate the Area to Be
Treated?
• Rates for lawn care p
products are stated per
p
1000 square feet or per acre.

• Rates for flowers, shrubs, and vegetables

are often given per 100 square feet.

• To determine how much pesticide or

fertilizer is needed for a job, first calculate
the size of the area to be treated.

Joe Masabni
Square or Rectangle
Area = Length x Width

60 ft

80 ft

Area = 80 x 60 = 4800 sq.ft.

Joe Masabni
 Triangle
Area = Base x Height / 2
A triangular area with 20 ft base and 40 ft
height = 20 ft x 40 ft / 2 = 400 sq
sq.ft.
ft

40ft

20ft Joe Masabni

 Circle
3 14 x r2
Area = 3.14
A circular flower bed measuring 40 ft in
diameter would have a radius of 20 ft, ft so:
Area = 3.14 x 202 = 3.14 x (20 ft x 20 ft)
Area = 1,256 ft2

40 ft

Joe Masabni
 Irregular Shapes

Irregular shapes (flower beds, vegetable

garden) can be divided into smaller,
smaller
recognizable geometric areas (square,
rectangle,
g , circle,, triangle).
g )

Joe Masabni
Once the area to be sprayed is calculated
calculated,
next you have to convert the commercial
rate to your applicable rate.

Joe Masabni
 Sample Calculations - 1

• You need to spread a crabgrass herbicide

over 2400 sq.ft.
• You purchase a 25 lb bag of the herbicide
herbicide.
• The label states that the contents of the
b will
bag ill cover 5
5,000
000 sq.ft.
ft
• How much of the bag will be needed?
• 2400 sq.ft. / 5000 sq.ft. per bag = 0.48 bag
• 0.48
0 48 bag x 25 lb per bag = 12 lb needed.
needed
Joe Masabni
 Sample Calculations - 2
• You
Y need d to
t apply l an insecticide
i ti id over 4800
sq.ft. The label says to apply 1 gal of water
andd 4 tsp
t for
f each h 200 sq.ft.
ft
• How much water and insecticide are
needed?
• Water needed:
4800 sq.ft. / 200 sq.ft. per gal = 24 gal
• Insecticide needed:
24 gal x 4 tsp = 96 tsp or 2 cups of insecticide

Joe Masabni
 Sample Calculations - 3
• A label prescribes 2 lb/A.
• How
Ho m muchch is needed for a 4800 sqsq.ft.
ft ?
(Remember that 1 A = 43,560 sq.ft.)
• 4800 sq.ft. / 43,560 sq.ft. per A = 0.11 A
• 0.11 acre x 2 lb = 0.22 lb of product or 3.5
oz product / 4800 sq.ft.

Joe Masabni
Pesticide Options for Homeowners
1.
1 Ready-to-use
R d t P ti id
Pesticides
2. Trigger pump sprayers
3. Aerosol cans
4. Dust Applicators
5. Impregnated wax bars – wipers
6
6. Bait stations
7. Granule Spreaders
8. Hose-End Sprayers
9. Hand-Operated
Hand Operated Sprayer
Joe Masabni
 1. Ready-to-Use Pesticides
A good choice if you:
• have a pest that is likely to occur
infrequently or that involves only a
small area of the home or garden
• are not familiar with the use or handling of
concentrated pesticides
• are unsure of how to calculate and mix the
concentrated pesticide for the proper application
rate
• do
d nott have
h the
th right
i ht type
t off application
li ti
equipment, or do not have a safe storage area for
concentrated pesticides.
pesticides

Joe Masabni
 2. Hand-Operated Sprayers
The llabel
Th b l on mostt pesticide
ti id concentrates
t t forf
use in the home garden gives the application
rate
t iin the
th form
f off a dilution
dil ti ratio
ti with
ith clear
l
and simple instructions.
For example:
Mix 1 fl.oz. p
per gal
g of water.
Spray to cover foliage thoroughly.

This is an ideal situation, no other

instructions needed.
needed
Joe Masabni
 2. Hand-Operated Sprayers
Some labels give the application rate as an
amount per unit area:
For Example: Apply 250 ml / 100 sq.ft.

To determine how much pesticide to put in

p y to cover a g
the sprayer given area,, you
y first
needs to know how much area the sprayer
will cover.

This is called sprayer

y calibration.

Joe Masabni
2. Hand-Operated Sprayers: Calibration
The easiest way to calibrate a small,
hand-operated sprayer is to do the
following:

• fill the tank with a known volume of

plain water
• walking at a set pace, spray water to
uniformly cover a predetermined area

Joe Masabni
2. Hand-Operated Sprayers: Calibration
If the area covered was 120 sq.ft., then the
amount of pesticide needed to put in the
sprayer is:

250 ml per 100 sq.ft. (required)

X ml per 120 sq.ft. (calibration)
X ml = 250 ml x 120 / 100
X ml = 300 ml

Joe Masabni
2. Hand-Operated Sprayers: Calibration
• If you are close
l tto th
the desired
d i d output
t t (250
ml / 100 ft2), you can slow down or speed
up your pace.
• If you can’t get close by adjusting your
pace, next best choice is changing the
nozzle. For example, by switching from
8002 to 8001, you are automatically
cutting the output in half.
• Speed and nozzle are your 2 easiest
choices for adjusting your sprayer
calibration.
Joe Masabni
 How much pesticide to buy ?

• Calculate the total amount of pesticide or

fertilizer needed for a given application
season or year
year.

• M
Multiply
lti l the
th amountt needed
d d for
f one
application times the estimated number of
applications
li ti required.
i d

Joe Masabni
Is it wise to buy bulk for best price?
Nott an easy question
N ti !
• Choose the quantity of product based on
anticipated need, not just the best value.
• Excess p pesticides in storage
g may y lose
their effectiveness over time, and
eventuallyy require
q disposal.
p
• Plan ahead and purchase only in
quantities that can be used efficiently
within the same year.

Joe Masabni
 Cost Comparison
W l M t - Roundup
Wal-Mart R d 1.92%
1 92% RTU
– $10.94 / 1 gal
Roundup WeatherMax 5.5 lb a.i./ gal
– $63.38 / gal, minimum 2.5 gal purchase = total
purchase = $158.
– A 2% solution (5 oz / gal water) costs $1.25 / gal
– Can make 125 mixes with 2.5 gal

I would still buy RTU product for backyard for

reasons listed earlier.
Joe Masabni
 Cost Comparison

Wal-Mart – Sevin 0
0.126%
126% -RTU
– $14.43 / gal

Sevin
– $30.53 / gal, minimum 2.5 gal purchase =
total purchase ~ $75.
– A 0.126% solution (1.61 oz / gal water)
costs $0.38 / gal

Joe Masabni
• If you have a pesticide applicator
certification, you may choose to purchase
pesticide packaged for commercial
growers.
• Thi
This may be
b more convenient
i and
d
economical.
• However, the pesticide may not be
available in small packages but in 1 lb,
lb 2.5
25
gal, or larger sizes.

Joe Masabni
Miscellaneous Information

Joe Masabni
 Mixing Instructions
For a 50 gal tank
tank.
• Fill half the tank with water.
• Add the
th spreader/sticker/adjuvant
d / ti k / dj t (if
needed)
• Add the pesticide.
• Add water up p to the 50 gal
g mark.

Joe Masabni
 Safety
y Equipment
q p and Clothing
g
Read the label before mixing or applying
pesticides.
pesticides
Minimum Requirements:
1 Long sleeve shirt.
1. shirt
2. Long pants
3 Chemical-resistant
3. Ch i l i t t gloves:
l never cotton
tt
or leather.
4 Shoes
4. Sh andd socks,
k nott sneakers
k or
sandals.

Joe Masabni
 Safety Equipment and Clothing
Clothing and equipment differ for different
pesticides

For Example:
1. Sandea: 1+2+4,, i.e. gloves
g not necessary.
y
2. Roundup: 1+2+3+4
3 Strategy: 1+2+3+4 + coverall + protective
3.
eyewear.

Joe Masabni
 For Leaks or Spills
• H
Have one or ttwo b bags off absorbent
b b t
materials (cat litter) and large plastic bags
readied on the truck or nearby where the
handling tasks are being performed.
• In case of leaks or spills follow the basic
safety principles and the three C’s of spill
management (Control, Contain, Clean up).
• If you don’t know or forget what to do, call
for help and wait until it arrives.
• Don’t assume that if you ignore it, it will
go away.
Joe Masabni
 Safety Precautions
•Don t eat
•Don’t eat, drink,
drink or chew tobacco during
application.
•Wash hands thoroughly before eating
eating,
drinking, chewing gum or tobacco, or using
the toilet.
•Remove clothing immediately if pesticide
gets inside. Wash thoroughly
g g y and put
p on
clean clothes.
•Wash the outside of g gloves before removing.
g
•When done, wash thoroughly and change
into clean clothes.

Joe Masabni