Best Practice Knowledge Base
1.3 Weeding
Weeding refers to the removal or management of competing vegetation to ensure the successful establishment and growth of planted or naturally regenerating trees. Its importance lies in reducing competition for essential resources such as light, water, and nutrients, particularly during the critical early stages of tree development. Key aspects to consider include the timing (to avoid damaging young trees), the method used (manual, mechanical, or chemical), the type of competing vegetation, and the specific site and species requirements.
I. Guidelines
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus Region | Language | Summary |
| 1 | Restoration techniques | US Forest Service | 2007 | US | English | General recommendations for weeding |
| 2 | Weed control | Forest Research | 2006 | UK | English | General recommendations for weeding |
| 3 | Weed Control Methods Handbook; Chapter 1 – Manual & mechanical control techniques | Tu et al. | 2001 | World | English | Tools & Techniques to control invasive weed species in Natural Areas |
| 4 | Weed Competition Control in Hardwood Plantations | US Forest Service | - | Temperate forests of US | English | Comprehensive guidelines for weed control |
| 5 | Forest vegetation management in Europe: Current practice and future requirements | COST Action | 2009 | Europe | English | State of the art of herbicide application and summary of practices in different European countries in 2009 |
II. Books or book chapters
| Nº | Title | Author | Chapter | Chapter author | Year | Focus region | Language | Summary |
| 1 | Silviculture: Concepts and Applications | Nyland | Site preparation | - | 2016 | US | English | Describes main methods for the control of competitive vegetation |
| 2 | Trees and weeds: Weed control for successful tree establishment | Davies | - | - | 1987 | UK | English | Detailed guide for weeding |
| 3 | Restoration of Boreal and Temperate Forests | Stanturf | Site preparation | Löf et al. | 2016 | World | English | Overall description of prescribed burning and herbicide application for removal of competing weeds |
| 4 | The practice of silviculture: Applied forest ecology | Ashton and Kelty | Site treatments | - | 2017 | World | English | Detailed guide for site preparation, including the principles and different methods for weed control |
| 5 | Weed Control | Price | Weeds in forestry and possibilities for their control | Vasic et al. | 2011 | World | English | Describes potential issues associated to weeds in forestry, and main methods for their control |
| 6 | Plantation silviculture in Europe | Savill et al. | Weed control and cleaning | - | 1997 | Europe | English | Principles and main techniques for weed control |
| 7 | Forest regeneration manual | Duryea and Dougherty | Prescribed burning for regeneration; Chemical and mechanical site preparation; Fertilization of southern pines at establishment | - | 1991 | US | English | Basics on site preparation for tree planting, including weeding |
| 8 | Growing plantation forests | West | Establishment: Weed control | - | 2014 | World | English | Weed control to promote establishment and growth of planted seedings for the establishment of plantation forests |
| 9 | Grundriss des Waldbaus | Burschell and Huss | Verjüngung - Konkurrenzregelungen in Verjüngungen und Jungwuchspflege | - | 2004 | Europe | German | Considerations and main methods for the control and removal of competitive ground vegetation |
III. Scientific articles
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus region | Language | Type | Summary |
| 1 | Combining innovative mulches and soil conditioners in mountain afforestation with ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in the Pyrenees (NE Spain) | Coello et al. | 2018 | Mountain forests | English | Experiment | Assesses the effects of different mulching treatments for weed control, among others, on seedling performance |
| 2 | Interactions between soil gravel content and neighboring vegetation control management in oak seedling establishment success in Mediterranean environments | Ceacero et al. | 2012 | Mediterranean | English | Experiment | Analyzes the interaction between different weed control methods and soil stoniness on the establishment of Holm oak seedlings |
| 3 | Positive effects of wood ash fertilization and weed control on the growth of Scots pine on former peat-based agricultural land – a 21-year study | Hytönen et al. | 2017 | Finnland | English | Experiment | Studies the impacts of weed control, ash fertilization and their interaction on the performance of scots pine in a 21-year period |
| 4 | Early Spring Broadleaved Weed Control during Seedling Dormancy in Regenerated Pedunculate Oak Forests | Vasic et al. | 2023 | Serbia | English | Experiment | Studies the effect of different herbicides on the growth of weeds and growth of oak seedlings |
| 5 | Herbicides and forest vegetation management: A review of possible alternatives | Mc Carthy and Mc Carthy | 2005 | World | English | Conceptual review | Discusses alternatives to herbicide in weed control |