Herbicidal 3-(substituted-benzyl)-1-methyl-6-trifluoromethyluracils, compositions containing them, and methods of using them to control undesired plant growth, including use to control weeds in certain crops, are disclosed. The herbicidal compounds of the present invention are defined by the following generic structure: STR1 in which V is hydrogen, halogen, nitro, amino, alkoxy, alkyl, cyano, phenyl, alkylcarbonylamino, alkylsulfinyl, or haloalkyl; W is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylaminocarbonyl, propargyloxy, cyano, nitro, benzoyl, aminooxycarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkoxyiminoalkyl, alkylthio or alkylsulfinyl; X is hydrogen, chlorine, alkoxy, nitro, or amino; Y is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkylthio, alkylthioalkyl, alkenyl, acyl, epoxyalkyl, cyano, alkylaminocarbonyl, carboxy, formyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, haloalkylsulfonyloxy, benzoyl, aminooxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, propargyloxy, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkoxyiminoalkyl, or dialkylaminocarbonylthio; X and Y taken together are --OCH2 O-- or --OC(CH3)2 O--, where halogen is bromine, chlorine, fluorine, or iodine, and each aliphatic moiety has one to three carbon atoms.