Table 1. Recommended herbicides for controlling common perennial broadleaf weeds in the fall.
       
Canada Thistle
Herbicide Rate Timing1 (Weed growth stage) Effectiveness
glyphosate 1.5-2% (see label) Spot treatment (bud stage) Good-Very Good
glyphosate 1.5-2.25 lb ae/A Bud to bloom stage Good-Very Good
Banvel 1-2 qt/A2 Bud stage Good-Very Good  
2,4-D ester 1-2 qt/A Bud stage Fair-Good
1Fall applications provide the most effective control.  
2Banvel at 1 qt/A will provide suppression; 2 qt/A will provide control.  
   
Common Milkweed
Herbicide Rate Timing1 (Weed growth stage) Effectiveness
glyphosate 1.5-2% (see label) Spot treatment (late bud to flower) Fair-Good
glyphosate 2.25 lb ae/A Late bud to flower Fair-Good
Banvel 1-2 qt/A2 Late bud to flower Fair-Good
Banvel + 2,4-D ester 0.5 pt/A + 1 pt/A Late bud to flower Fair
1Fall applications provide the most effective control.  
2Banvel at 1 qt/A will provide suppression; 2 qt/A will provide control.  
   
Field/Hedge Bindweed
Herbicide Rate Timing1 (Weed growth stage) Effectiveness
glyphosate 1.5-2% (see label) Spot treatment (full bloom) Good
glyphosate + Banvel 1.5 lb ae/A + 1 pt/A Full bloom Good
glyphosate 2.25 lb ae/A Full bloom or beyond Good
Banvel 1-2 qt/A2 Full bloom Good
1Do not treat when bindweed is under drought stress.  
2Banvel at 1 qt/A will provide suppression; 2 qt/A will provide control.  
   
Hemp Dogbane
Herbicide Rate Timing1 (Weed growth stage) Effectiveness
glyphosate 1.5-2% (see label) Spot treatment (late bud to flower) Good
glyphosate 2.25 lb ae/A Late bud to flower Good
Banvel 1 qt/A Late bud to flower Good
Banvel + 2,4-D 0.5 pt/A + 1 pt/A Late bud to flower Fair-Good
1Fall applications provide the most effective control.
   
Horsenettle
Herbicide Rate Timing (Weed growth stage) Effectiveness
glyphosate 1.5-2% (see label) Spot treatment (late bud to flower) Good
glyphosate 2.25 lb ae/A Late bud to flower Good
Banvel 1-2 qt/A1 Late bud to flower Good
2,4-D ester 2 qt/A Late bud to flower Good
1Banvel at 1 qt/A will provide suppression; 2 qt/A will provide control.  
   
Perennial Sowthistle
Herbicide Rate Timing (Weed growth stage) Effectiveness
glyphosate 1.5-2% (see label) Spot treatment (rosette stage) Fair-Good
2,4-D ester 1-2 qt/A Rosette or bud stage Good
Banvel 1-2 qt/A Rosette or bud stage Good
2,4-D ester + Banvel1 1 qt/A + 1 qt/A Rosette or bud stage Good
glyphosate 2.25 lb ae/A Rosette stage only Fair-Good
1Banvel or 2,4-D at 1 qt/A will provide suppression; 2 qt/A will provide control. Treatment for 2 consecutive years is best.