Freelexx herbicide: How to Use It, Mix It, and Which Weeds It Kills

What is Freelex herbicide?

Freelexx herbicide is a selective herbicide with a low odor that can be used as a post-emergent treatment to control various types of weeds.

Freelexx herbicide can be used in forests, rangeland, non-cropland, aquatic areas, grass pastures, and Conservation Reserve Program acres.

It has a liquid form and can also be used for the control of trees by injection.

The active ingredient in Freelexx herbicide

The active ingredient in Freelexx herbicide is 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) with a concentration of 38.4% or 3.8 lb per gallon.

Apart from the 2,4 D, this herbicide also contains choline salt, which increases the effectiveness of the active ingredient.

This can result in better dispersion of the herbicide in water and improved absorption by plants.

How does the Freelexx herbicide work

Due to its chemical compound 2,4-D and ammonium salt, the Freelexx herbicide belongs to Group 4 herbicides, also known as synthetic auxins.

Herbicides within this class mimic the natural plant hormones called auxins. Through this mechanism, the Freelexx herbicide disrupts weed cell membranes and impedes their ability to grow and develop further.

This herbicide also has reduced volatility.

Volatility refers to the tendency of a substance to evaporate into the air.

By minimizing volatility, the herbicide aims to stay on target and not disperse into unintended areas, improving its effectiveness and minimizing potential harm to non-target plants or surroundings.

What does Freelexx kill

The Freelexx herbicide kills annual and biennial weeds such as bitterweed, thistle, and knotweed, as well as perennial weeds like sowthistle, clover, and blueweed.

Table 1 and 2 contains a comprehensive list of weeds managed by the Freelexx herbicide.

Table 1. Annual or Biennial Weeds Controlled by Freelexx Herbicide

beggarticks1 bittercress, smallflowered bitterweed broomweed, common1 burdock, common buttercup, smallflowered1 carpetweed cinquefoil, common cinquefoil, rough cocklebur, common coffeeweed copperleaf, Virginia croton, Texas croton, woolly flixweed galinsoga geranium, Carolina hemp, wild horseweed (marestail) jewelweed jimsonweed knotweed1 kochia lambsquarters, common lettuce, prickly1 lettuce, wild

lupines mallow, little1 mallow, Venice1 marshelder morningglory, annual morningglory, ivy morningglory, woolly mousetail mustards (except blue mustard) parsnip, wild pennycress, field pepperweed1 pigweeds (Amaranthus spp.)1 poorjoe primrose, common purslane, common pusley, Florida radish, wild ragweed, common ragweed, giant rape, wild rocket, yellow salsify, common1 salsify, western 1 shepherdspurse sicklepod smartweed (annual species)1 sneezeweed, bitter

Table 2. Perennial Weeds Controlled by Freelexx Herbicide

alfalfa1 artichoke, Jerusalem1 aster, many-flower1 Austrian fieldcress1 bindweed (hedge, field and European)1 blue lettuce blueweed, Texas broomweed bullnettle1 carrot, wild1 catnip chicory clover, red 1 coffeeweed cress, hoary1 dandelion1 docks1 dogbanes1

eveningprimrose, cutleaf garlic, wild1 goldenrod hawkweed, orange1 healal ironweed, western ivy, ground1 Jerusalem artichoke loco, bigbend nettles (including stinging)1 onion, wild1 pennywort plantains ragwort, tansy1 sowthistle, perennial thistle, Canada1 vervains1 waterplantain wormwood

¹ May require an application to small weeds, repeat applications, and/or use of higher specified rates of this product.

Freelexx herbicide Application Rate

The Freelexx herbicide comes with specific application rates based on the treatment method and targeted weeds. In general, you can use 1 to 4 quart.

Let’s delve into the details:

For Spot Treatment

If you intend to apply this herbicide to specific areas, you can use 1 pint of Freelexx herbicide for 2 acres, or 1/5 fl. oz. of herbicide per 1000 square feet.

Table 3 and 4 shows you the quantity for more acres or square feet.

Table 3. Broadcast Rate (pint/acre)

1/2

2/3

3/4

1

2

3

4

8

Table 4. Equivalent Amount of Freelexx per 1000 sq ft

1/5 fl oz (5.5 mL)

1/4 fl oz (7.3 mL)

1/3 fl oz (8.3 mL)

3/8 fl oz (11 mL)

3/4 fl oz (22 mL)

1 fl oz (33 mL)

1 1/2 fl oz (44 mL)

3 fl oz (88 mL)

For Band Application

If you apply this herbicide using the band application method, you have to use a special formula that gives you the right amount of herbicide that you have to apply it.

For Forest

When using this herbicide on forest sites or roadsides, then you can use 2 to 4 pt per acre for annual weeds, and 4 to 8 pt per acre for biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds or susceptible woody plants.

For conifers like balsam fir, black spruce, jack pine, ponderosa pine, red pine, red spruce, white pine, and white spruce utilize only 1 1/2 to 3 qt per acre.

For Rangeland and Grass Pastures

For rangeland and established grass pastures, You should use 2 pt per acre when treating annual broadleaf weeds, and somewhere between 2 and 4 pt per acre if you spray biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds.

For Non-cropland Areas

For non-cropland areas such as fencerows, hedgerows, roadsides, drainage ditches, airports, or utility power lines, you have to use 2 to 4 pt per acre for annual broadleaf weeds, 4 pt per acre for biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds, and 4 to 8 pt per acre for any susceptible woody plant.

For Turfgrass

If you plan to use Freelexx herbicide on turfgrass, then you can apply 3/4 to 1 pt per acre as a post-emergent treatment for seeding grass and 1 to 4 pt per acre for well-established grasses.

For ornamental turfgrass, you can use 3/4 pt per acre, 2 to 3 pt per acre for deep-rooted turfgrass, and 3 pt per acre for biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds.

For Aquatic Areas

In aquatic environments, such as reservoirs, lakes, bayous, drainage ditches, canals, rivers, and streams, it is essential to consider the average depth when calculating the appropriate amount of herbicide for application.

The maximum application rate for this type of area is 2.84 gallons per acre-foot.

Refer to Table 5 for a comprehensive list of application rates spanning depths from 1 to 5 feet.

 

Table 5. Amount to Apply for a Target Subsurface Concentration

Average Depth (ft)	For difficult conditions – 2 ppm (2,4-D a.e./acre)	For typical conditions – 2 ppm (Freelexx gal/acre)	For difficult conditions – 4 ppm1 (2,4-D a.e./acre)	For difficult conditions – 4 ppm1 (Freelexx gal/acre)
1	5.4	1.42	10.8	2.84
2	10.8	2.84	21.6	5.68
3	16.2	4.26	32.4	8.53
4	21.6	5.68	43.2	11.37
5	27.0	7.10	54.0	14.21

Freelexx Herbicide Mixing Instructions

You can mix Freelexx herbicide only with water, but there are also other two possibilities if you want to boost its efficacy.
1. Freelexx alone

You can only mix Freelexx herbicide with water.

Simply prepare a tank with the desired quantity of water and add the appropriate amount of herbicide.

This is effective for use when dealing with less stubborn weeds.

2. Freelexx tank mix

You can mix water and herbicide, and you can also introduce another herbicide if desired.

However, before adding another herbicide, it’s important to conduct a compatibility test.

Simply prepare a jar and combine a small amount of each component, observing for any reactions such as flakes, sludges, gels, or precipitates.

Review the label of the other herbicide to identify any restrictions or prohibited combinations.

Make sure you don’t go beyond the maximum use rates for any active ingredient when mixing in the tank. Avoid combining this product with any other that has a label rule against being mixed with 2,4-D.

3. Freelexx – additional agents and surfactants

Another option when mixing Freelexx herbicide is to combine it with liquid nitrogen fertilizer for foliar application, oil, a wetting agent, or another surfactant for herbicide.

Each of them increases the effectiveness of the herbicide on the weeds.

Just remember that you should not store the resulting mixture for too long, as it is not recommended to use it later.

How to use Freelexx herbicide

The process of applying Freelexx herbicide is straightforward and can be accomplished by anyone, simply by following a few simple steps and taking into account all the other considerations that the product label specifies for each intended use case.

Follow these rules when using Freelexx herbicide:

1.

Make sure the timing is right for treating your weeds with this herbicide.

Since it is post-emergent, you should wait until the weeds are actively growing. The optimal period usually falls in spring or early summer.

2.

Once you have confirmed the right timing, proceed to check the weather forecast. Avoid applying the herbicide on windy days or during excessively hot conditions with temperatures surpassing 90°F.

3.

When the weather is favorable, you can begin preparing to apply the herbicide.

The first step is to make sure you wear the appropriate personal protective equipment for spraying.

The herbicide label mandates the use of a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, closed shoes, and socks during spraying.

When mixing the herbicide, you must also have waterproof gloves, protective eyewear, and a chemical-resistant apron.

4.

Prepare your herbicide applicator.

This herbicide can be applied through aerial application or ground boom application using handheld sprayers, backpack sprayers, etc., or any other method that suits your requirements.

Just keep in mind that in the case of aerial application, the boom length should remain within the limits of 75% of the wingspan or 90% of the rotor blade diameter. Release the spray at the lowest height that ensures both effectiveness and safe flight.

5.

Mix the herbicide accordingly with the label, using the correct application rate for your specific situation.

Blend it until all the substances are completely dissolved. Then, pour the mixture into your tank.

6.

Apply the herbicide to the weeds thoroughly, ensuring complete coverage.

Simultaneously, take care to avoid spraying on desirable plants. Some susceptible crops include cotton, okra, fruit trees, grapes, sunflowers, tomatoes, beans, flowers, various vegetables, and tobacco.

7.

After finishing spraying, it is important to clean both your personal protective equipment (PPE) and the equipment used for application.

Tree injection with Freelexx herbicide

This herbicide helps to control various unwanted hardwood trees, such as oak, sweetgum, elm, and hickory, in areas such as forests and non-crop environments.

When doing tree injection, you can apply a rate of 1 mL of undiluted Freelexx for every inch of trunk diameter at breast height. This reference point is typically 4 1/2 feet above the ground.

For trees like ash, maple, or dogwood, it is recommended to use 2 mL of undiluted herbicide per injection site.

This process can be carried out between May 15 and October 15.

Herbicide Restrictions

When using herbicides, it’s important to do it correctly, which means following the rules and limitations that come with it.

As with any other type of herbicide, Freelexx comes with its own restrictions that must be applied in the field.

How to store it

To store your Freelexx herbicide safely, place it in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Avoid direct sunlight and extremes of temperatures, as these can affect and degrade the chemical composition of the herbicide.

Another guideline to follow is to keep the herbicide in a place out of reach of children, pets, and unauthorized individuals. Store it in a locked cabinet or storage area that is elevated off the ground, and use the original container to store it. The original container is designed to hold the herbicide.

It is not recommended to store the herbicide already mixed with water or other herbicides, so make sure you have a quantity that you can use entirely. If not, then dispose of it by following your area’s official rules.