Sharpen Herbicide & Marestail: How to Get the Most from Your Spring Burndown

Welcome to Knox Ag’s Weekly Field Report: Flight Plan.

In this week’s update, I’m digging into marestail management — especially for no-till or minimum-till fields where this weed can get out of hand fast. Now that temps are finally warming up, it’s a good window to start burndown, and I’m sharing what’s worked well for us using Sharpen herbicide as part of a strong spring strategy.

What to Watch For

• Marestail grows fast once it bolts. This weed doesn’t wait around. If you don’t catch it early, it can take over a field quickly — especially in no-till.

• It’s resistant to glyphosate and ALS herbicides. That means your standard program might not touch it. That’s why we’ve leaned on Sharpen for tougher acres.

• Sharpen is fast, powerful, and works better with the right mix. It’s a Group 14 herbicide that disrupts cell membranes, and we’ve had good luck when we:

  • Use at least 15 GPA for good coverage

  • Pair it with MSO and a nitrogen source like AMS or UAN

  • Add a residual partner to keep fields clean longer

Next Steps

If you’re fighting marestail this season, Sharpen (or a premix that includes it) can be a great tool. Like always, make sure you check the label for rates and timing — or give me a call and I’ll help you build a recommendation for your acres.

📞 402-631-3080