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Weed Spraying Safety Tips

Weeds can get out of control fast, especially if you’re managing more than a few acres of land. Using herbicides like Gly Star®, Weedmaster, Crossbow, and more from Coastal are great options. But it’s important to apply them safely. We’ve compiled a quick and easy list of must-dos to keep you, your family, and animals safe.

Read the Label Carefully

You’ll find all the information you need, including what to do if you inhale or come in contact with an herbicide. Some labels will list personal protection equipment necessary to apply the product safely. Most labels will indicate how long you, pets, and livestock should stay out of the area after application to reduce harmful exposure. When reading the label, look for one of four EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) caution words. These will give you a quick snapshot of the chemical’s toxicity. These include CAUTION (relatively non-toxic), WARNING (could cause illness if swallowed, inhaled or exposed to skin), DANGER (highly toxic), and the skull and crossbones we all know as poisonous.

Only Mix What You Need

Some herbicides are pre-mixed, but others are concentrated and require a bit of measuring and mixing. Before you start adding chemicals to water, measure the area where you plan to spray. There’s no sense in wasting money on herbicides you might not use.

Don’t Use Items from the Kitchen

When mixing and measuring chemicals for the farm, don’t use items from the kitchen. A dedicated measuring cup and stirring stick or spoon are great investments. Label them “Farm Only” to avoid any mix-ups.

Know Your Exposure Points

There are four ways that chemicals can come into contact with you. These include dermal (getting it on your skin), inhalation (breathing it in), ocular (getting it into your eyes), and oral (swallowing it). That’s why it’s important to wear protective gear.

Wear Protective Gear

Using herbicides almost never goes exactly as planned. After all, handles leak and spray drifts with the wind. If there’s a chance you can get some chemicals on your skin, cover that area up. If you might breathe it or get it in your eyes, wear goggles or a respirator.

Personal protective equipment includes:

  • Long-sleeve shirt and pants
  • Chemical-resistant boots or slip-on shoe covers
  • Chemical-resistant gloves
  • Face shield or goggles
  • Dust mask or full respirator
  • Jumpsuit that is either disposable or easily cleaned
  • Rubber apron for mixing chemicals

Get Your Weed-Eliminating Supplies at Coastal

You’ll find a full line of sprayers and attachments, including large-capacity spot sprayers for your farm and ranch rigs at your Northwest owned and operated Coastal. You’ll also find plenty of tools and people who can show you how to dilute herbicides properly.

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East Wenatchee

260 Highline Dr
WA, 98802

0.0 Miles

Yakima

2112 South 1st Street
WA, 98903

58.2 Miles

Monroe

19881 US-2
WA, 98272

84.4 Miles

Auburn

1425 Outlet Collection Way
WA, 98001

92.4 Miles

Marysville

9623 State Ave #13
WA, 98270

99.6 Miles

Mount Vernon

2021 Market Street
WA, 98273

119.2 Miles

Lacey

5500 Martin Way E
WA, 98516

121.1 Miles

The Dalles

2600 W 6th Street
OR, 97058

131.2 Miles

Sequim

990 East Washington Building A, Suite 101
WA, 98382

138.5 Miles

Gresham

2865 NE Hogan Dr
OR, 97030

165.1 Miles

Oregon City

1900 McLoughlin Boulevard SE Ste 120
OR, 97045

178.7 Miles

Cornelius

3865 Baseline Rd.
OR, 97113

184.3 Miles

Woodburn

1550 Mt Hood Avenue
OR, 97071

197.8 Miles

Salem

1230 Lancaster Drive SE., #10
OR, 97317

214.9 Miles

Redmond

3141 S Hwy 97
OR, 97756

222.4 Miles

Albany

1355 Goldfish Farm Rd SE
OR, 97322

233.1 Miles

Corvallis

400 NE Circle Blvd
OR, 97330

241.2 Miles

Eugene

2200 W 6th Street
OR, 97402

269.0 Miles

Roseburg

782 NE Garden Valley Blvd.
OR, 97470

324.6 Miles

Klamath Falls

1776 Avalon St
OR, 97603

365.8 Miles

White City

7303 Crater Lake Hwy
OR, 97503

366.4 Miles