If you’re thinking about a spring burndown herbicide application as part of your integrated weed management plan, a thoughtful strategy is key to protect yields.
With any kind of herbicide application, make sure you’re selecting the right product and type for your crop, soil and production goals. Here are some important factors to consider in choosing the best burndown herbicide for your field.
Why use a burndown herbicide?
Using burndown herbicides, especially in conjunction with no-till, minimum-till or strip till methods, can provide powerful, effective weed control to prepare your field for planting. And a more complete tank mix that includes burndown herbicides such as glyphosate, along with a residual herbicide like Zidua®SC or Outlook®, can provide residual control for several weeks of added protection.
Without that clean seedbed, early spring weeds, including marestail, giant ragweed and kochia can steal soil moisture and sunlight and tie up valuable nutrients.¹ To add insult to injury, these weeds can also harbor problematic pests like cutworm.
A strong preplant burndown, followed with pre- and post-emergence applications, can reduce weed escapes during the growing season, subsequently decreasing the weed seedbank over time. When you jump-start weed management early, you can achieve more comprehensive, season-long yield protection.
How to choose the best burndown herbicide for your acres
When choosing a mix that includes a burndown herbicide, it’s important to understand which weeds are present in your fields and have a clear grasp of planting restrictions and application timing in relation to your planting schedule. Take into account the need for residual control.
Here are the primary factors to consider to help you choose the burndown herbicide that best meets your needs.
Weed species
Identify the weed species present in your field. Some pre-emergence herbicides target broadleaf weeds like clover and dandelion, while others aim at tackling grass weeds like Italian Ryegrass.² It’s crucial to know what you’re facing so you don’t waste an application.
If you’re combating multiple weed species, consider a burndown herbicide or mix that provides multiple modes of action to increase the range of weed control and manage herbicide-resistant weeds.
Residual control needs
Not all burndown herbicides offer residual weed control on their own, but you can achieve longer-lasting weed management results by including an herbicide that offers good residual control. Sharpen® has rate-dependent residual that is a valuable component for controlling early-emerging species, including common lambsquarters and giant ragweed, before planting.
Timing considerations
Some herbicides require a planting interval after application while others allow for crops to be planted sooner.
If getting seeds in the ground quickly after an herbicide application is important to your strategy, consider Verdict®, an herbicide without timing restrictions when used as a pre-emergence for corn (rate and soil type will determine potential timing restrictions for soybeans).
Find the right burndown herbicide for your acres
Preventing weeds from taking over your fields throughout the season is worthwhile regardless of your cropping system. A well-planned strategy with the right herbicide mix for clean planting and residual control can have positive effects on your crop yields — and on your peace of mind, from planting through harvest.
Experts are available to help you make your burndown decisions. Reach out to your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent or a seed company professional like your regional BASF representative.
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Endnotes
- Lingenfelter, Dwight. “Spring Burndown: Considerations when Spraying Early.” Penn State Extension, 31 Mar. 2026, extension.psu.edu/spring-burndown-considerations-when-spraying-early. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.
- Jones, Eric. “Considerations for Preemergence Herbicides.” SDSU Extension, 22 May 2023, extension.sdstate.edu/considerations-preemergence-herbicides. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.
