Pendimethalin is a selective herbicide, absorbed by the roots and leaves. Affected plants die shortly after germination or following emergence from the soil.

Used to control of most annual grasses and many annual broad-leaved weeds at 0.4-2.0 kg a.i./ha in cereals, onions, leeks, garlic, fennel, maize, sorghum, rice, soya beans, peanuts, brassicas, carrots, celery, black salsify, peas, field beans, lupins, evening primrose, tulips, potatoes, cotton, hops, pome fruit, stone fruit, berry fruit (including strawberries), citrus fruit, lettuce, aubergines, capsicums, established turf, and in transplanted tomatoes, sunflowers, and tobacco, applied pre-plant incorporated, pre-emergence, pre-transplanting, or early post-emergence. Also used for control of suckers in tobacco.