Time for fall weed management

By Stephanie Karhoff, Ohio State University Extension

As harvest wraps us, fall becomes a critical time for weed management. Applying a fall herbicide burndown targets winter annuals and perennial weeds when they are most susceptible. This proactive approach can significantly reduce weed pressure in the spring, improve planting conditions, and remove possible hosts for insects and soybean cyst nematode.

Fall herbicide applications are particularly effective against winter annuals like marestail, chickweed, purple deadnettle, and henbit, as well as perennials such as dandelion, Canada thistle, and poison hemlock. These species often germinate in late summer or early fall and can overwinter, becoming difficult to control in the spring.

Applying a fall burndown also helps mitigate the chal