Get Ahead of Weeds with a Fall Burndown

Small weeds in the fall can become a much bigger problem by spring if they’re left to overwinter. What starts as scattered growths of marestail, henbit or purple deadnettle can later become thicker, harder-to-control stands that fight crops for moisture, light and nutrients come spring when work is already piling up. A timely fall burndown can help put a stop to that cycle early, leaving fields cleaner, reducing the need for rescue treatments later and setting up a smoother start for the coming year.

Why a fall burndown?

A fall burndown can provide a number of benefits, including:

Hitting winter annual weeds when they are small and easier to control.
Providing a cleaner seedbed going into the spring, reducing competition for resources, which helps preserve yield potential.
Reducing the need for spring tillage or a spring burndown at a time when weather can limit field access.
Aiding in drying out spring fields. Fewer weeds allow more sun and air exposure to the soil, leading to better planting conditions, more uniform emergence and increased seedling vigor.
Helping reduce disease and pest pressure. Pests or pathogens may find hosts in winter weeds, allowing them to persevere in the field and emerge quickly once warm temperatures arrive.

Fields that can benefit from a fall burndown

Not every field needs a fall burndown. But there are certain situations where farmers are likely to see the biggest payoff, including:

No-till and reduced-till fields that allow winter annual weeds to more easily germinate on the soil surface.
Fields with heavy winter annual weed infestation that can further spread in the spring.
Early harvested fields where weeds have more time and resources to grow.
Fields with herbicide-resistant weeds which may limit herbicide options in spring.
Circumstances that may limit the ability for timely applications in the spring, such as poorly drained fields or reduced sprayer availability.

Problem weeds

Fall burndown programs are built around a relatively consistent set of troublemakers: winter annuals that germinate in autumn, overwinter, then bolt in early spring if left unchecked. Check out these species that can threaten yields before seeds even hit the soil:

Purple deadnettle – Of six winter weeds identified as alternate hosts for soybean cyst nematode (SCN), purple deadnettle has proven to be the strongest.
Lambsquarters – The seeds from lambsquarters persist through the winter and can produce fast, early season growth in spring, making herbicide control more difficult.
Henbit – Overwintering as a small plant, this weed can begin growing in early spring and is second only to purple deadnettle as a strong alternate host for SCN.
Marestail – A single marestail plant can produce 200,000 seeds. It overwinters as a rosette, then bolts in spring. Fall-emerged marestail is larger and harder to kill by spring as it has mostly completed its growing cycle.

Key factors for fall burndown applications

A successful fall burndown hinges on implementing the right program. And a good program takes into account several important elements, including:

Timing and weed size – Time fall herbicide applications between early October and late November when most winter annuals are small and actively growing. Consider that a species like marestail has a wide fall emergence window and a fall burndown applied with a residual may reduce or even eliminate the need for an early spring burndown to control it.
Weed spectrum and resistance – Identify the main winter annuals, biennials and perennials in each field. Note any with known herbicide resistance, such as marestail. For such weeds, the use of herbicides with different sites of action and at different timings may be required.
Application conditions – Herbicide applications are most effective on warm, sunny days that encourage active plant growth. Temperatures below 40°F and cloudy or wet conditions can slow translocation and reduce efficacy.
Herbicide program design – A broad-spectrum burndown should be used, combining multiple modes of action to handle mixed weed populations and resistance. Inclusion of a residual herbicide is recommended to provide ongoing control of germinating seeds and help reduce early season pressure into spring.

Spotlight: Elevore^® Herbicide

As part of a broad-spectrum fall burndown program, Elevore^® herbicide delivers thorough, systemic control of key broadleaf weeds — including glyphosate- and ALS-resistant marestail, henbit, lambsquarters and purple deadnettle — without regrowth. Powered by Arylex™ active, it rapidly absorbs into plant cells and translocates through the weed, halting growth and ensuring complete kill on marestail up to 8 inches tall. Its low 1-ounce-per-acre use rate and compatibility with common burndown and residual partners make it an excellent fit for no-till and reduced-till systems ahead of soybeans, helping farmers start spring with clean fields.

By targeting small, actively growing weeds before they overwinter, a fall burndown can help control problem species like marestail, henbit, purple deadnettle and other winter annuals. And while a fall burndown may not fit every field, having a cleaner seedbed in the spring can help ease workloads and set the stage for a more productive start to the season ahead.

^{™ ®} Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Elevore^® is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatoryagency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. © 2026 Corteva.

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