Herbicides are defined by EPA as "substances intended to kill weeds or other plants that grow where they are not wanted". So what makes an herbicide a green herbicide? That depends on who you talk to. Some would say that Roundup is a green herbicide because of its low mammalian toxicity, few non-target problems, low potential to leach into ground water and quick degradation. Others would state that Roundup can not possibly be a green herbicide because it is synthetic. Any type of classification system is by definition, artificial. For our purposes green herbicides will be products which pose the least potential hazards to individuals and the environment and are exempt from registration with EPA under FIFRA 25(b) or are considered bioherbicides. See the citations for further details on exemption from registration with the EPA and what EPA considers bioherbicides/biopesticides. Be aware that the assignment of green in this publication does not mean absence from risk. There is risk associated with any pesticide to include herbicides described as "green". There are two types of green herbicides, pre- emergence herbicides and post emergence herbicides. PRE-EMERGENCE HERBICIDES: The only current green pre-emergence products on the market all contain the same active ingredient, corn gluten meal (CGM) . Products containing CGM should be used primarily for weed control in turf and possibly around established perennials. Corn gluten applied at 20 lbs/1000 square feet in turf on a regular basis has provided variable control of weeds such as chickweed, crabgrass and dandelion. The weed control effect from CGM are likely from two mechanisms. One mechanism is the release of organic molecules (peptides) from CGM which have a "root stunting" regulatory effect on weeds and other plants when in the seedling stage. Corn gluten meal also contains 9-10% by weight nitrogen which may make the turf more competitive. A 20 lb/1000 sq. ft. rate of CGM would supply 1.8-2.0 lbs of actual nitrogen. That amount of nitrogen could cause unanticipated side effects such as a need for more frequent mowing, more biomass to dispose of, more turf disease, increased growth of existing weeds and the danger of pushing turf too hard with nitrogen in hot weather. Rates of CGM applied may need to be adjusted downward depending on location. The best control with CGM has been obtained when there is a dry period after application so irrigated turf likely will be problematic. The price differential for corn gluten vs synthetic herbicides will be substantial. Two applications of CGM needed for 8-12 weeks of control at a rate of 10-20 lbs per 1000 sq. ft. will be in the $30.00-$60.00 range. Pre-emergence herbicides such as pendimethalin will be in the $1.50 range for 8- 16 weeks of control. Control of weeds with corn gluten meal has been very erratic depending on location (Chalker-Scott,2008). Best success with CGM has been in the Midwest. It is unlikely that corn gluten will supply the same level of control as synthetic pre- emergence herbicides however clients may not care! If the turf is uniform and green many people dont care about a few weeds. POST EMERGENCE HERBICIDES: There are a number of green herbicides which are applied to plants after emergence. The majority of which are contact, non-selective type herbicides. Contact, non-selective herbicides control weeds by destroying plant foliage. They work best on small weeds and are much less effective on older plants. In general, control of broadleaf weeds appears better than control of grasses with these products. If control of perennials such as bermudagrass is needed, these products will need to be continually applied as they do not kill roots of per- ennials. If these types of products are used in turf, the turf will also have burned foliage. They provide no pre- emergence activity and thus will need to be reapplied with new flushes of weeds. Good spray coverage is essential for success and higher spray volumes (50-70 gallons of water per acre) appears to increase efficacy. Addition of a spray adjuvant designed to increase coverage of the foliage may increase activity of these products. There are two green herbicide products on the market which claim to be selective in turf. One product, Agralawn Crabgrass Killer list cinnamon bark as the active ingredient. It claims to control crabgrass, basketgrass, chickweed, clover and other similar weeds in St. Augustine, Bahia, Common Bermuda and Centipede grasses. This product is applied as a dust to 2012 PESTICIDE TRAINING RESOURCES wet foliage of weeds. There are precautions about being rain free for several days after application and that the product will stain concrete. The other products which claim to be selective in turf all contain the same active ingredient chelated iron, FeHEDTA (iron hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid). Claims are that products containing FeHEDTA will control or suppress 23 different broadleaf weeds in cool season turf. There are no claims of control of grasses. Products containing FeHEDTA should not be used on bentgrass and there are cautions about using products containing FeHEDTA when the temperature will exceed 85F. I have seen no information on FeHEDTAs safety on Bermudagrass or zoysia. EPA considers products which contain FeHEDTA to be biopesticides so registration is required. There are other bioherbicides (plant pathogens) which have been used on a limited basis. The environ- ment, i.e. temperature, rainfall, humidity, UV light for which we usually have no control over, can have a profound effect on the activity of these bioherbicides. There likely will be more bioherbicide products released in the future. Biological control of weeds with insects has been less than satisfactory on a small scale. The best control (usually not eradication) of weeds with insects has been on large scale infestation such as rangeland or aquatic sites. It is important to remember that for control of weeds with insects, the insects must become established on a large scale. This is often difficult to achieve. Although control of weeds with insect has had limited success, do not eliminate this option from the arsenal. There have been few if any University type trials conducted (exception: Patton & Weisenberger, 2012) to determine the efficacy of many of these green herbi- cides. Caution should be exercised before committing to use of green herbicides on a large scale without careful investigation and planning. A list of active ingredients and type of activity of green herbicides is provided below. This list should be considered non-inclusive as new green herbicides products are likely in the future. Active Ingredient Types of Activity Acetic acid (vinegar) Postemergence, Nonselective. Ammoniated soap of fatty acid Postemergence, Nonselective Cinnamon Bark Postemergence, Selective weed control in turf Cinnamon oil, rosemary oil Postemergence, Nonselective Citrus oil (d-limonene) Postemergence, Nonselective Citric acid Postemergence, Nonselective Clove oil Postemergence, Nonselective Corn Gluten Meal Pre-emergence, Nonselective Ethanoic acid Postemergence, Nonselective. FeHEDTA Postemergence, Selective weed control in turf Octanoic acid Postemergence, Nonselective Pelargonic acid Postemergence, Nonselective Potassium salts of fatty acids Postemergence, Nonselective Thyme oil Postemergence, Nonselective Citations: Chalker-Scott, L. 2008. The Myth of Weed-Killing Gluten: Article. Washington State University. http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Chalker-Scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/Myths/Corn%20gluten.pdf EPA. Minimum Risk Pesticides, Criteria for FIFRA 25(b) Exemption.(2012). http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/regtools/25b_list.htm EPA. Regulating Biopesticides. (2012). http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/biopesticides/. Patton, A. & D. Weisenberger. 2012. Efficacy of Current Postemergent Weed Control Options in Turfgrass Systems. Annual Report. Purdue Univ. Turfgrass Science Progress. PP 26-30. http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/report/2011/PDF/06_AGRY_Patton_organic%20weed%20control.pdf www.ptrpest.com