Control of woody plants by the foliar application of triclopyr butoxyethyl ester compositions free of aromatic solvents

1. A method for controlling undesired woody vegetation which comprises applying to the foliage of the woody vegetation an herbicidal composition comprising about 60 to about 600 grams acid equivalent/liter triclopyr butoxyethyl ester, about 50 to about 150 grams/liter emulsifier and about 200 to about 900 grams/liter of either a dearomatized aliphatic solvent, vegetable oil or an ester of a vegetable oil as a carrier, or a water dilution of the herbicidal composition.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the herbicidal composition comprises from about 60 to about 480 grams acid equivalent/liter triclopyr butoxyethyl ester, about 50 to about 100 grams/liter emulsifier and about 230 to about 865 grams/liter of either a dearomatized aliphatic solvent, vegetable oil or an ester of a vegetable oil as a carrier.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the dearomatized aliphatic solvent has a boiling point range from about 160 to about 315° C.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the dearomatized aliphatic solvent has a boiling point range from about 200 to about 250° C.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the vegetable oil is corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed or canola oil, cotton seed oil or linseed oil.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the ester of a vegetable oil is an ester of corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, or cotton seed oil.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the ester of a vegetable oil is a C 1 -C 4 straight and branched chain alkyl ester of a fatty acid, both saturated and unsaturated, ranging from C 6 to C 18 .

8. The method of claim 1 in which the ester of a vegetable oil is methyl caprylate-caprate, methyl laurate or methyl oleate.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the herbicidal composition is diluted with water prior to the application to the foliage of the woody vegetation.