What happens if contact herbicides do not achieve complete coverage?

When using contact herbicides, achieving complete coverage is crucial for their effectiveness. Contact herbicides work by directly affecting the plant tissues they come into contact with. If there are areas of the plant that are not covered by the herbicide, those sections remain unaffected and can continue to grow or recover, leading to reduced overall effectiveness of the treatment.

Without complete coverage, the likelihood of the herbicide causing sufficient damage to the plant is diminished. This means that even if the herbicide has potent active ingredients, any untreated portions can allow the plant to survive or regrow, thus failing to control the target plant species effectively. Therefore, ensuring thorough application is essential for maximizing the potential of the herbicide to eliminate unwanted vegetation or weeds.