Build Your 2026 Noxious Weed Control Plan

By Scout Nelson

As the 2025 season ends and winter begins, this is the best time for land managers to plan for noxious weed control in 2026. Weather conditions in 2025 created heavy growth of absinth wormwood, Canada thistle, and leafy spurge. With a long fall season and delayed frosts, weeds continued growing well into late fall. Planning early helps build a stronger and more successful plan for next year.

A good first step is reviewing how weed management worked this year. Some tactics may have been effective, while others may not have provided good control. Incorrect herbicide choice is a common reason for weak results. For example, Milestone works well on Canada thistle and absinth wormwood but is not effective on leafy spurge.

Because many weed species grow together, tank mixes are often needed for broader control. Even when weed control is good, using the same plan every year can cause weeds to adapt, so changing tactics is important.

Mapping weedy areas also helps set priorities. Even places where weeds were well controlled should be marked for future scouting. Small patches can often be handled with spot spraying, reducing the need for costly broadcast applications. Land features also matter. Hilly areas may require different equipment or even aerial spraying.

Some sites near water or rough terrain may be good candidates for biological control insects. Follow-up scouting after treatment helps determine if another application is needed.

Identifying weed species is another key part of planning. Each weed responds differently to herbicides and mowing. Knowing timing is also important, because some weeds must be treated earlier than others for good results. Proper weed identification is also important when using nonchemical tactics such as mowing or biological control.

Non-herbicide tactics can be used along with chemicals. These include mowing, hand pulling, and releasing approved insects that feed on specific weeds. When combining mowing and herbicides, mowing should be done before or several days after spraying to avoid reducing herbicide movement in the plant.

While growing conditions for 2026 are unknown, planning now makes weed control easier when the season becomes busy. Diverse, field-specific plans help improve long-term weed management and reduce weed spread.

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