Every May we get calls along these lines: “The maize already has 5–6 leaves, it needs spraying urgently“. We understand — the season hits all at once, and everything has to be done in parallel. But to be honest: at 5–6 leaves the result is already much worse than at 2–3. So this article is about how not to be late, and what to do if the deadline has already slipped a little.
Weeds compete with maize for moisture, nutrients and light precisely at the early stages. A timely herbicide treatment isn’t just weed control — it protects the potential yield.
Optimal treatment timing
- Pre-emergence (before maize emergence) — right after sowing, a soil-applied herbicide
- Early post-emergence (BBCH 10–13, 2–3 maize leaves) — the most effective, the main treatment
- Late post-emergence (BBCH 14–18, up to 6–8 leaves) — when a repeat treatment is needed or under grass weed pressure
The key rule: weeds should be at the stage of 2–4 leaves. With more developed weeds the herbicide’s efficacy drops significantly. Stressed maize recovers after a late treatment, but time is lost.
What to do if the deadline has already been missed
If the maize already has 5–6 leaves, a treatment is still possible, but the right product must be chosen. Some herbicides are permitted up to BBCH 18 (8 leaves). The main thing is not to wait any longer. Call us, we’ll check the stage and pick an option.
Types of herbicides for maize
The choice of herbicide depends on the type of weeds and the treatment stage. The current range is in our crop protection catalog.
Soil-applied
Applied before or right after emergence; they block the germination of weed seeds in the soil
Foliar (post-emergence)
Destroy weed seedlings; more flexible to use
Tank mixes
A combination of several active ingredients for a broad spectrum of weeds (grasses + broadleaves at the same time)
Products with soil activity
Protect against new weed flushes after treatment
How application quality matters
With uneven herbicide application part of the field remains unprotected. Weeds grow in these spots and compete with the crop. A self-propelled sprayer with a boom of 36 m and GPS provides even coverage of every hectare without misses — this isn’t marketing but technical reality.
- Accurate dosing in line with the product rate — no overuse and no underdosing
- GPS — zero overlaps and misses on any field shape
- Work in the morning and evening — optimal temperature and humidity for the product
- Up to 200 ha a day — we fit into narrow agronomic windows
- High chassis — treatment at late stages without risk of damaging plants
Herbicides and crop safety
Some maize herbicides have restrictions on the following crops in the rotation. It’s important to take this into account when choosing a product, especially if you plan sunflower or rapeseed after maize. If you’re not sure — check with us.
Wester services
We carry out herbicide treatment of maize in the Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Rivne and Zhytomyr regions. From 400 ha, approximate price from $11/ha (operator and fuel included), arrival within 1–3 days.
The full catalog of services and machinery is on the website. Logistics and non-standard conditions are discussed separately.
- 10 years of work in the fields of Podillia and neighbouring regions — we know the specifics of local soils and crops
- Our own modern machinery — no middlemen, direct responsibility for quality
- Real arrival within 1–3 days — not a marketing promise but a commitment we keep
- A GPS report on completed work — transparency and control for the client
- Payment after the work is done — you pay for the result, not for promises
We’ll call you back within 2 hours and agree the visit.
