The review of forest vegetation management practices has shown that many European countries face the same challenges regarding establishment and tending of young tree stands, but countries with different climates, forest types and economies by necessity address the problem by different means. National policies targeted at reducing the dependence on pesticides, be they certification or other national initiatives, are enacted in most countries, but we found that the instruments chosen differ across regions and across countries. Herbicides are still utilized in all countries, but the extent to which they are used varies greatly. Any reductions in herbicide use achieved do not seem to have been driven solely by participation in forest certification schemes. Other factors, such as national initiatives or the availability of additional resources to implement more expensive non chemical approaches may be equally important.