07-22-2014, 05:15 AM
I would be careful on what plants you use Dawn. Dawn is indeed a detergent and is a common choice in the nursery and horticultural trades as a surfactant for its strength. For instance, we were warned by a Plant-It manager not to use Dawn as a horticultural soap for aphids on citrus as it tends to strip the leaves of their waxy surface. Dawn is also touted as the choice for wildlife cleaning in oil spills. Most glyphosate formulations contain a surfactant optimized for getting the glyphosate through the outer layers of weed leaves and into the plant system. However other herbicides often don't have surfactants added and benefit from adding some Dawn. In our experience glyphosate has little effect on maile pilau, but triclopyr (e.g. Remedy) works well with the added surfactant.