Bare Ground Herbicides

Bare ground herbicides, also known as soil sterilants, are chemical products that deliver a total kill of any vegetation from the area where it has been applied and can last for long periods of time.

Bare ground herbicides are able to last in the soil and keep killing for up to 10 years or more. They are meant to be used in areas where no plant life is wanted such as industrial sites, right-of-ways, and parking lots. One of the big benefits of these types of materials is the cost savings that are realized from the reduced frequency of applications needed over time.

Known as a "kill-all" herbicide, bare ground herbicides are great for clearing up unwanted vegetation, eliminating plants that could cause damage, obstruct views, present safety issues, or be an obstacle for working crews.

Bare ground herbicides are very easy to use. All it takes is mixing a selected bare ground herbicide in an appropriate sprayer and then apply it to the area you wish to eliminate plants and weeds.

Here you can shop our top recommended bare ground herbicides. Should you need any help in making a selection or applying the product, we offer expert advice over the phone or via email with our trained representatives who can guide you through each step of the application process. Contact us via email at askapro@solutionsstores.com or call (800) 479-6583 for assistance with your order.

Our Recommendations

• Bromacil 40/40 - Bromacil 40/40 is a bare ground herbicide that is helpful in eliminating stubborn annual and perennial weeds that creep up in industrial and non-crop areas. It can provide year-long control.
• Pramitol 25E - Pramitol 25E Weed Killer is a pre and post-emergent herbicide used to kill various types of weeds and woody plants to establish bare ground. It is ideal for use on industrial work sites and non-cropland areas. This product will work with foliar contact, but much of its activity is ultimately through the roots.

These bare ground herbicides kill weeds and grasses and prevent new growth for up to one year or longer. Use on driveways, patios, walks and fence rows using a handheld tank sprayer. For larger application sites, we recommend using a professional spray rig. We also recommend Vision Max Indicator Dye to can keep track of where you have sprayed product.

Since many kinds of weed seeds can lay dormant deep in the soil for several years, bare ground soil sterilant herbicides should always be applied with enough water to provide 8-12 inches of soil penetration. If there is tall and actively growing vegetation, a greater volume of liquid will be needed to achieve this deep soil penetration objective.

User Guide

Tools Needed

• PPE (Chemical resistant gloves, Dust mist mask, safety glasses or goggles)
• Selected Bareground Herbicide 
• Vision Pro Max Spray indicator.
• Tank Sprayer

Step 1: Use Post-Emergent Herbicide To kill current Vegetation

The first step to bare ground control is killing all current vegetation. You will want to use a systemic post-emergent herbicide that will kill the current vegetation down to the root.

The most common bare ground herbicide for leafy vegetation is glyphosate and we have had 100% success with the Glyphosate 4+ from Alligare. If you are dealing with larger woody vegetation such as bushes or trees you would want to utilize an ester like Triclopyr 4 which is 60% triclopyr and will eliminate anything with a bark.

Determine how much product you will need by calculating the square footage or acreage of the area to be treated. To do this, measure and multiply the area length times the width (length x width = square footage). To get acreage, take the calculated square footage and divide it by 43,560.

Glyphosate 4 Plus can be applied at a rate between 0.7 oz. (0.5% solution) to 13 oz. (10% solution) in a gallon of water depending on the spray solution ratio you use. Use the 0.5% solution for weeds less than 6 inches in height. For weeds over 6 inches tall, use a 1% solution. For harder to control weeds, use a higher solution ratio according to the label.

Once the product is diluted in a sprayer and well-mixed, apply to the desired vegetation, spraying to wet but not to the point of runoff, preferably on a fan spray setting for uniform coverage. You should see signs of death within 2 to 4 days depending on the weed type.

Step 2: Apply Bare Ground Herbicide to the area.

Once the vegetation in the area has died, you can then apply a bare ground herbicide to keep the weeds from coming back. These products inhibit seed germination and will ensure that nothing grows where they are applied for 1 year.

We always recommend using an indicator dye when applying bare ground herbicides so you know exactly where you spray and do not apply to areas where you do not want the chemical.

Bromacil 40/40 is to be applied at a rate of 1/4th of a cup in a gallon of water to treat 200 sq. ft.  Once mixed, apply as a band or spot treatment around areas where you wish there to be bare ground.

Pramitol 25E can be applied at a rate of 1/2 - 7/8 pt. of Pramitol 25E in 1 gallon of water to cover 500 square feet. Apply the Pramitol 25E mixture to the target areas, preferably on a fan spray nozzle setting. Make applications close to the ground. Pramitol 25E works better when it reaches the roots, even though some results occur from it touching the foliage. After the application, you should water the area to activate the product.

Things To Consider

Choosing the right bare ground herbicide depends on a few factors:

• The application site (Guard rails, industrial area, parking lot etc.)
• Weeds to be controlled (Are they annual, biennial, perennial?)
• How long you wish to have control? (Months, 1 or more years?)
• Cost
• Limitations (State, county, city issues

Make sure you consider issues like the environment before applying bare ground herbicides. Consider what is nearby (private properties, bodies of water, agricultural areas etc). You don’t want to cause trouble or contaminate any areas via application runoff

The label is the law! Follow the label carefully for the right application rates, safety measures to take and more.

Key Takeaways

• Bare Ground herbicides are a cost-effective way to deal with unwanted vegetation on industrial sites and offer a broad spectrum of weed control.
• Our top-recommended bare ground herbicides are Bromacil 40/40 or Pramitol 25E.
• Remove emerged weeds with a non-selective weed killer like Glyphosate 4 Plus and after weeds have died, apply Bare Ground Herbicide to the area to ensure weeds don't regrow.
• Monitor treated area to ensure the weed population is succumbing to the product and is not showing resistance. If resistance is taking place, re-application may be necessary or trying a different bare ground herbicide product.