Seventeen weed control treatments were used around five species of newly planted alders (Alnus cordata, A. glutinosa, A. incana, A. inokumae, andA. rubra). The treatments that gave the best control during the first season were a mixture of terbumeton and terbuthylazine, diuron applied either once or twice, and appropriate surface cultivation. However, terbumeton/terbuthylazine should be used with caution around first year plants. Other treatments which performed adequately were: oxyfluorfen applied twice; linuron as a pre-emergence treatment; and simazine either following an application of activated amitrole before planting, or (at double the rate) on cultivated ground after planting. Amitrole applied soon after planting intensified drought stress 3 months later. None of the herbicide treatments caused lasting damage to the young trees. There were no significant differences between species or provenances in their responses to these treatments. The herbicide treatments had no effect on the size or numbers of root nodules.