Should You Spray Before Planting Spring Food Plots?

If you're wondering whether to spray your food plots before planting in the spring, the answer isn’t just yes. It's absolutely yes! This question pops up in hunting and land management circles every year, and the benefits of spraying before planting can't be overstated. Whether you’re using traditional tillage methods or adopting no-till practices, burning down your plots with herbicide prior to seeding gives you a clear advantage. It’s one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your food plots are productive, healthy, and worth the investment of time and resources.

Let’s break down why this step is so critical and how it can set the stage for a successful growing season.

1. Eliminate Competition from Unwanted Growth

The most immediate benefit of spraying your plots before planting is the termination of grasses, weeds, and other unwanted vegetation that compete with your food plot seed. When you plant into a plot full of existing green growth, your new seed doesn’t get a fair chance. It has to fight for light, nutrients, and water—all of which are already being consumed by those aggressive grasses and broadleaf weeds.

By applying the right herbicide mix in advance, you create a clean slate. You’re essentially clearing the table so your desirable plants—whether it’s clover, brassicas, or cereal grains—can thrive without being choked out. This not only improves germination and growth rates but also ensures you get the most out of every seed you plant.

2.Reduced Tillage and Faster Seedbed Prep

If you're using conventional tillage, burning down your food plot in advance makes the soil preparation process significantly easier. Dead, brown plant material tills into the soil much more efficiently than green, living plants. That means fewer passes with your disc or tiller, saving you time, fuel, and wear on your equipment.

Less tillage also comes with added benefits—especially when it comes to moisture conservation. Every time you work the soil, you risk drying it out, which can be a real problem during dry spring weather. Fewer tillage passes help keep valuable soil moisture intact, giving your seeds a better environment to germinate and take root. You’ll also reduce compaction, which is key to maintaining healthy soil structure and long-term plot productivity.

3. Support Soil Biology and Long-Term Fertility

One often overlooked reason to spray and kill off existing growth is what happens below the surface. When you till in green vegetation, the decomposition process demands a lot of energy from your soil. It burns up microbial activity and organic matter as it breaks down that fresh plant material. This leads to a temporary depletion of nitrogen and other nutrients—what’s sometimes called "nitrogen tie-up."

In contrast, when you till in dead brown matter, the decomposition process is much more balanced. You’re feeding the soil, not draining it. This helps maintain a healthy microbial population, supports better long-term fertility, and reduces the need for costly pH corrections and fertilizer applications.

In short, you’re building soil health instead of burning it out.

When Should You Spray?

Timing your herbicide application is key. Ideally, you want to spray your plots 10 to 14 days before you plan to till or plant. This gives the herbicide time to work through the plant system and fully kill off unwanted vegetation. If you're using glyphosate-based products, this window gives you the best chance of a full kill before seeding.

Make sure the plants are actively growing when you spray. Spraying dormant or stressed weeds won’t give you the results you're looking for. Also, avoid spraying right before a heavy rain to ensure the herbicide has time to be absorbed.

Tools That Make It Easier

Spraying doesn’t have to be a chore. With tools like the Plot Blaster boomless sprayer, you can cover wide swaths quickly and efficiently—even in tight spaces like trails, woods, or irregular-shaped plots. Attach it to your ATV, UTV, golf cart, or small tractor, and you’re ready to knock out large areas in a fraction of the time it would take with a hand wand or backpack sprayer.

For even more precision, consider adding the Side Swiper boom attachment, which allows for directional spraying to the left or right—perfect for trails, fence lines, or food plot edges. Pair it with the 12-volt remote controller and a flow control valve, and you’ll have complete command of your spraying process from the driver’s seat.

Don’t Forget a Drift Agent

To ensure your spray stays where it’s supposed to go—especially on windy days—a drift control agent is a smart addition. Our 5-in-1 Drift Agent not only reduces drift but also includes a surfactant, pH conditioner, sticker, and tank cleaner, making your spray applications more effective and efficient.

Set Your Plots Up for Success

If you’re serious about growing successful food plots this spring, start with a clean slate. Spraying your plots before planting is one of the smartest moves you can make. It helps your seeds get off to a strong start, makes tillage faster and easier, and supports the long-term health of your soil.

For tools and accessories designed with the food plotter in mind, visit www.plotblaster.com. From high-performance sprayers to essential add-ons, we’ve got what you need to manage your land more efficiently and effectively.