3 Steps to a Successful Fall Burndown Application

If conditions in your area allow you to make a fall burndown application, it can make the spring a little easier from a weed management perspective. Applying in the fall allows you to target frequent winter annuals with herbicides at the start of their life cycles, before they grow larger and more difficult to control.

A fall herbicide application also reduces the number of host plants for insects and even diseases in certain climates. Post-harvest herbicide applications support soil drying and warming in the spring, especially in no-till fields, which can facilitate conditions for earlier planting.

Here are some of our top tips to get the most from your fall burndown application.

This seems like a no-brainer, but I can’t stress how important proper weed identification is to ensure effective weed control. Some chemistries work better on certain species than others, and in order to choose the right products, you need to know what weeds you’re targeting. Common weeds like marestail and tansy mustard are easy to recognize, but others can be more challenging to identify. Take the time to confirm weed species in your fields to ensure you're spending money on the products most effective for control.

Most fall burndown programs include glyphosate, along with either 2,4-D or dicamba plus residual herbicides. Residual products, including Valor^®, Sharpen^® or the metribuzin-based Dimetric^® herbicides, are important components of a fall burndown application because they can help control small-seeded winter annuals that may become more difficult to manage in the spring.

While fall can be a good time to apply herbicides, you need to pay attention to field conditions to get effective control. When temperatures drop below 40 degrees, weeds won’t metabolize and translocate herbicides as well as they do at warmer temperatures, so weed control could be limited. In general, weeds take up more herbicide at temperatures of 60 degrees or above. Early October through late November typically offers these optimal conditions for herbicide applications, but timing varies by region, crop type and weather conditions.

 You also should keep in mind your field’s soil type, because you may need to adjust herbicide application rates accordingly. This is also a good time to double-check the rotation restrictions and review your cropping options. Every choice, including which rotation you select, will impact your field's future, so don’t forget to consider next year’s crop when making decisions. 

Adding the right adjuvant to your tank mix can mean the difference between average and excellent weed control. Premium adjuvants help get more active ingredient to the target weed and can help enhance herbicide performance and ROI potential. Class Act^® NG^® adjuvant is a good option for use with glyphosate because it combines ammonium sulfate for water conditioning with a nonionic surfactant and antifoaming agent. This helps ensure better herbicide uptake and adds efficiency for tank mixing.

As temperatures begin to drop, a plant’s cuticle layer thickens, and it can’t translocate herbicides as efficiently. Cool fall temperatures make methylated seed oils (MSOs) a good option because they help herbicides penetrate that waxy cuticle and deliver more active ingredient into the weed. Destiny^® HC adjuvant is an MSO adjuvant that mixes with glyphosate well and is an effective option for fall burndown applications. Another option as temperatures cool is StrikeLock^® adjuvant, which also helps reduce drift, and improve deposition to keep herbicides on target.
 
Fall is a busy time of year, but if you can prioritize a burndown application, it can mean cleaner fields and fewer headaches in the spring. Fall burndown applications offer benefits beyond reliable weed management, including reduced risk of detrimental insects and diseases and the potential for earlier planting. Pairing effective herbicides with premium adjuvants in the fall can increase the ROI potential of your application and set you up for greater success next spring. For more information on fall burndown products for your acres, speak with your local WinField United retailer.
  
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© 2026 WinField United. Important: Before use always read and follow label instructions. Crop performance is dependent on several factors many of which are beyond the control of WinField United, including without limitation, soil type, pest pressures, agronomic practices and weather conditions. Growers are encouraged to consider data from multiple locations, over multiple years and to be mindful of how such agronomic conditions could impact results. Class Act, Destiny, Dimetric, NG, StrikeLock and WinField are trademarks of WinField United. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.