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Spraying glyphosate on food plots is the most efficient method I know of for removing undesirable weeds ahead of planting.
One or two treatments prior to the planting season really sets a plot up for success.
To get the best results out of your herbicide application, follow the steps listed below.
- Measure your plots
- Use 41% Glyphosate
- Use a surfactant
- Mix the correct ratio
- Add dye if desired
- Use enough water
- Time it correctly
- Use PPE
- Spray evenly
- Clean up afterwards
1. Measure Your Food Plots
You really need to know about how big your plot is in order to apply the correct amount of chemical per acre.
I use an app on my iPhone to determine the size of each of my plots. You could also use the Google Earth measuring tool, or a good old fashioned tape measure of some sort.
An acre is roughly the size of a football field, not including the end zones. Another way to look at it, is a single acre (43,560 sq. ft.) is pretty close to a 70×70 yard square (44,100 sq. ft.).
2. Purchase 41% Generic Roundup
No need to over complicate things. Just go with the most common, most affordable, and most readily available version, which is 41%. If the label says “41% Glyphosate”, you’re good to go.
Buy Off-Brands To Save Cash
Brand doesn’t seem to matter much, and I always stick to the much cheaper generic substitutes for Roundup.
Most recently, I’ve been purchasing glyphosate from Amazon (linked above), but I’ve also used the Eraser brand in the past, as well as other random brands, such as those available from Tractor Supply. They all work fine.
Some generic versions of Roundup come with surfactant already mixed in, and some do not. The “FarmWorks” brand at Tractor Supply, for example, includes surfactant. For others, you may have to add it.
3. Use A Surfactant!
A surfactant is a type of additive that you can mix with herbicide to get it to spread out and stick better to plant surfaces.
Be aware that when you buy off-brands, some of them don’t include surfactant. A lower price usually reflects the lack of surfactant.
If you purchase chemical without it, you should purchase surfactant separately and add it to your mix. You could also use a very small amount of Dawn dish soap, which will work in a pinch.
I prefer commercial surfactants since they don’t have the annoying foaming action of Dawn.
Below is a link to the surfactant I use with my cheap generic versions of Roundup.
4. Apply The Correct Amount Of Chemical Per Acre
In order to be precise with your application, you would first determine the most hard-to-kill weed in your plot, and then cross reference that with the documentation that came with your purchase. But, let’s be honest, not many of us are doing that on our first attempt. So, instead, follow the guidance below.
Spray at a rate of 1-2 quarts per acre of glyphosate on food plots. I like to lean towards a stronger 2 quart per acre concoction, because you don’t want to stun weeds without actually killing them.
Try to use enough chemical on the first try, because if you treat weeds and don’t actually kill them, it contributes to Roundup resistance.
5. Add Dye To Your Mix
Especially when using a backpack sprayer, you might consider adding herbicide dye to your mix, so that you can better see where you’ve sprayed.
The visual advantage of a dye helps you to get more even coverage without wasting chemical.
6. Use Enough Water
Some food plotters get too focused on how much water to use when distributing chemical, but it’s really all about the amount of chemical per acre that matters.
The amount of water is simply the vehicle used to distribute that necessary amount of chemical.
The rule of thumb
Use however much water it takes with your particular sprayer to cover a given plot. 15-20 gallons of water per acre is a good rule of thumb.
Being more precise
If you want to be more precise with your water amount, do a dry run with only water in your sprayer, to see how much water it takes to evenly cover the entire food plot. Then you can come back later after that has dried, and use your pre-determined amount of water with the amount of chemical needed.
I find that 2 tanks of water with my 4 gallon backpack sprayer covers 1/2 acre really good. In other words, I spray at a rate of 16 gallons of water per acre.
7. Time Your Application Correctly
The timing of your application goes a long way in how effective it will be. Below are a few things to keep in mind when planning your next spraying.
Weeds need to be actively growing
It is VERY important to apply glyphosate when weeds are actively growing. And while not not entirely necessary, you would ideally apply chemical when weeds are young.
Don’t spray during a drought!
Most importantly, don’t time your application during a drought!
I know from first hand experience that you are wasting your time if you spray during times of severe plant stress. Weeds are not actively growing when stressed from lack of moisture.
Check the wind
Be mindful of spraying in windy conditions. Not only does it waste chemical, but it also may harm or kill something of which you didn’t intend on damaging.
Beware of dew and rain
Apply later in the day when the dew has dried, and don’t spray when rain is in the very near term forecast.
Plants need at least 2 hours to absorb the chemical before rain has a chance to wash it away.
Ideally, you would use more than one application
For best results, spraying at least 2 applications of glyphosate on food plots are needed leading up to the planting season.
It can feel like threading a needle when deciding the perfect time to spray your food plots. However, putting forth some effort into your timing is worth it!
8. Use Personal Protection Equipment
Ideally you will use rubber gloves, a face mask, and eye protection, in addition to full coverage clothing.
9. Spray Chemical Evenly
Use a quality sprayer, whether that is a backpack sprayer or atv setup, and spray as evenly as you can. Use however much water you need in order to spray a nice even coating over the entire plot.
ATV Sprayer Setups
An ATV sprayer is the better option, in my opinion. But, a 4 gallon backpack sprayer does a great job as well. It just takes a bit more sweat equity.
Whether you have the budget for an ATV setup or not, it’s still nice to have a quality 4-gallon backpack sprayer for tending to smaller plots.
Backpack Sprayers
While I really like backpack sprayers, there are some disadvantages to them.
Besides having to exert more physical effort, these types of sprayers also tend to get more chemical on your clothing, and I’m sure you end up breathing more in.
You definitely want to take precautions with regards to your clothing and eye protection so that you don’t over saturate yourself when using a backpack sprayer.
10. Clean Equipment Afterwards
Don’t forget to use Dawn dish soap, or something similar, to clean out your sprayer after you’re done.
You can get commercial “spray tank cleaners” at places like Tractor Supply or Amazon made specifically for cleaning sprayers.
Answers To Some Common Glyphosate Questions
To wrap things up, below are some common questions and answers in relation to spraying Roundup on food plots.
1. How Long After Spraying Before I See Results?
You can usually start seeing some effects in a few days, but be prepared to wait a few weeks to see the full effects unfold.
Assuming you didn’t spray during a drought, or right before a rain, the changes to your plot should be dramatic in 2 or 3 weeks.
2. Does Glyphosate Go Bad?
From my experience, it doesn’t go bad. With that said, it supposedly loses effectiveness over time.
I have used some Eraser brand that I had stored in my garage for over 5 years, and it killed my food plot off just fine. I would not recommend storing it for that long, but I certainly wouldn’t throw an unused container away.
3. Will Roundup Kill My Clover Food Plot?
Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. Some people do claim that they have had luck spraying diluted glyphosate in their established plots without killing the clover, but I definitely would not try it.
The Whitetail Institute, the makers of the famed Imperial Whitetail Clover, states on their website that they DO NOT recommend using Roundup on their clover.
4. Is Glyphosate Dangerous?
The dangers of this chemical are debatable, so I’ll leave that argument up to others. Below are a couple links that you may find helpful.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphogen.html
FDA Q&A For Glyphosate
5. Can I spray and then seed at the same time?
You might wonder how long you should wait to plant after spraying. My preference is to spray a couple weeks before dropping seed, just so that I have more bare soil. With that said, it’s totally fine to spray glyphosate and then spread seed in the same day.
If your spray concoction only contains Glyphosate, water, and a surfactant, you can plant your seeds immediately.
It’s quite common to spray and plant in the same day.
6. Where should you buy glyphosate?
Lately I have been purchasing generic chemicals on Amazon.com. Other good places are Co-Op’s, Tractor Supply, or other similar farm supply stores.
I try to avoid the higher prices found at big box home improvement stores.
7. Should I add 2,4-D to my food plot glyphosate spray?
It’s not necessary to add 2,4-D to your spray. However, adding 2,4-D to your glyphosate concoction is a common practice, and can help get rid of some pesky broadleaf weeds that Roundup might not take out.
2,4-D is broadleaf-selective, so it won’t handle the grasses. That’s why you ideally need both chemicals in your spray mix.
Be aware that 2,4-D is not ground neutralized like Roundup, so if you include it, you’ll need to wait a few weeks after spraying before you plant.
Don’t confuse 2,4-D with 2,4-DB which is used for slightly different purposes.
8. Can I spray right after bush hogging?
Some food plotters do spray after they brush hog an area. However, that’s certainly not ideal, and is not recommended. Doing so, breaks one of the main objectives of your timing, which is to spray when plants are NOT under duress.
If you decide to spray after cutting an area, wait at least 2 or 3 days to let the weeds recover from the stress before spraying.
Conclusion
To get a good burn on your food plots, use at least 1 quart of glyphosate per acre, preferably 2 quarts per acre.
It’s all about how much chemical per acre rather than the amount of water in your sprayer. Use however much water you need in order to evenly distribute the chemical.
Time your application during a period of good weed growth, and not during a drought. Be sure to have at least 2 hours for the plants to absorb the chemical before any rainfall.
For best results, perform 2 or 3 separate applications spaced out during the late spring and summer, leading up to planting time.
Good luck with your food plots!
Augustus Clay
